Need, not greed.

“Greed,for lack of a better word, is

good.”

Greed is not working out for everyone, however…

The very wealthy have done very well

Emmanuel Saez, University of California Berkeley

How many are left behind?

Most of the world’s resources are consumed by a few…

The U.S. has an outsized impact on the global environment

The world’s 25 wealthiest countries

Total GDP (Billions)

GDP Per Capita

GINI Inequality Index

United States $14,140.0 $46,000 46.1

China $8,748.0 $6,600 27

Japan $4,150.0 $32,700 32.1

India $3,570.0 $3,100 32

Germany $2,810.0 $34,100 56.7

United Kingdom $2,128.0 $34,800 58.5

Russia $2,110.0 $15,100

France $2,097.0 $32,600 32.7

Brazil $2,013.0 $10,100 38.1

Italy $1,739.0 $29,900 32

Mexico $1,465.0 $13,200 30.5

Korea, South $1,364.0 $28,100 39.4

Spain $1,362.0 $33,600 43

Canada $1,279.0 $38,200 36.8

Indonesia $962.5 $4,000 48.2

Turkey $874.5 $11,400 30.6

Australia $851.1 $40,000 41.5

Iran $827.1 $12,500 31.3

Taiwan $735.4 $32,000 65

Poland $689.3 $17,900 34.9

Netherlands $660.0 $39,500 44.5

Saudi Arabia $592.3 $20,600

Argentina $548.8 $13,400 45

Thailand $540.1 $8,200 34.4

Wealthiest countries ranked by income inequality

Total GDP (Billions)

GDP Per Capita

GINI Inequality Index

Taiwan $735.4 $32,000 65.0United Kingdom $2,128.0 $34,800 58.5Germany $2,810.0 $34,100 56.7Indonesia $962.5 $4,000 48.2United States $14,140.0 $46,000 46.1South Africa $505.3 $10,300 45.7Argentina $548.8 $13,400 45.0Netherlands $660.0 $39,500 44.5Spain $1,362.0 $33,600 43.0Egypt $469.8 $6,000 42.3Australia $851.1 $40,000 41.5Malaysia $383.6 $14,900 41.0Korea, South $1,364.0 $28,100 39.4Brazil $2,013.0 $10,100 38.1Canada $1,279.0 $38,200 36.8Poland $689.3 $17,900 34.9Thailand $540.1 $8,200 34.4Colombia $401.5 $9,200 34.0France $2,097.0 $32,600 32.7Japan $4,150.0 $32,700 32.1India $3,570.0 $3,100 32.0Italy $1,739.0 $29,900 32.0Iran $827.1 $12,500 31.3Turkey $874.5 $11,400 30.6

Greed works? It depends on where you sit.

Courtesy Rev. Todd Weir, Blooming Cactus

For want of a better word

 13Someone in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me."  14But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?"

 15Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."

 16And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive.  17"And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?'

For want of a better word

 18"Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19'And I will say to my soul, "Soul,

you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."'

 20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' 21"So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

“__________ is good.”

The better word:

A thought

“Stewardship means that we are really caretakers for God.  We are to take care of the earth and its abundance, we are to use the land and its wealth wisely.  We may benefit from its abundance, but must remember that everything really belongs to God.  Greed arises from the belief that we are the sole owner of all that we have, when really everything we think we own ultimately belongs to God.  It is all on loan to us for the short period of time we walk on this earth.  We can benefit and enjoy God’s abundant world, but it is all a gift and must be used wisely and responsibly. "

— Rev. Todd Weir, Blooming Cactus

Questions to consider

• What is the Christian response to the ideology that “greed is good?”

• What would we do differently if we fully lived by the principles of Luke 12? How would our economy operate differently?

• But wouldn’t a society of self-interested – greedy – people be motivated to care for their environment?