If humans are greedy, then we come by it honestly. The big fellow -- whose image that we were [supposedly] created in -- seems to have the same trouble with always wanting more than he already has. No matter how much of anything he possesses, it never seems to be enough. If God has a motto, my guess is that it would mirror a line from an old Tom Lehrer parody song: "More, More, I'm still not satisfied."
In the early days of the OT, while thousands struggled under the yoke of driving poverty, God continually instructs his minions, not to take care of the poor, but to build for him palatial tabernacles. It is not enough that these be a strong and sturdy buildings; they must have walls of gold and be filled with precious jewels and the gaudiest of materials of the day.
God can never seem to have enough animals sacrificed on his behalf. The OT is filled with verse upon verse of the most arcane rules covering every trespass imaginable. In far too many cases, his followers are directed to slaughter all sorts of animals, in sometimes staggering numbers, to appease the almighty.
I've often wondered if sheep, goats and turtledoves think to themselves, "What does this guy have against us? People screw up, but we pay the price!"
And then there is the desire for total and complete obedience to his will. He puts humans on the earth to live and yet he wants us to spend every waking moment worshiping him. If a person gets distracted for even a second, he tends to throw a royal temper tantrum and demands all of our attention be redirected to him again.
Talk about being greedy!
This post is part of a mini-series. To read the intro, go here.
In the early days of the OT, while thousands struggled under the yoke of driving poverty, God continually instructs his minions, not to take care of the poor, but to build for him palatial tabernacles. It is not enough that these be a strong and sturdy buildings; they must have walls of gold and be filled with precious jewels and the gaudiest of materials of the day.
God can never seem to have enough animals sacrificed on his behalf. The OT is filled with verse upon verse of the most arcane rules covering every trespass imaginable. In far too many cases, his followers are directed to slaughter all sorts of animals, in sometimes staggering numbers, to appease the almighty.
I've often wondered if sheep, goats and turtledoves think to themselves, "What does this guy have against us? People screw up, but we pay the price!"
And then there is the desire for total and complete obedience to his will. He puts humans on the earth to live and yet he wants us to spend every waking moment worshiping him. If a person gets distracted for even a second, he tends to throw a royal temper tantrum and demands all of our attention be redirected to him again.
Talk about being greedy!
This post is part of a mini-series. To read the intro, go here.
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