Making Godly Decisions: Guarding Against Greed

Every day, we are faced with thousands of decisions—most are small, but some are pivotal and can shape the course of our lives. The challenge is that none of us have perfect knowledge or the ability to see the future, so we must rely on God’s guidance and wise counsel. The focus today is not just on making good or bad decisions, but on making godly decisions—choices that align with what God would do, for our highest good and the good of those around us. One often overlooked aspect of decision-making is the influence of our “inner governing condition”—the state of our hearts and desires at the moment we choose. This inner condition, often unnoticed, can slant or distort our decisions, especially when it is colored by greed.

The story of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, illustrates the dangers of making decisions from a place of greed. Lot chose what looked best to him—the well-watered plains near Sodom—without regard for God’s will or the wisdom of staying close to Abraham, the man God had chosen and blessed. Lot’s decision was driven by a desire for comfort, prosperity, and stability, but it led him into a place of moral compromise and, ultimately, deep regret and loss. Greed promises satisfaction but delivers disappointment and destruction, not just to ourselves but to those connected to us.

God has written deep desires in our hearts for pleasure, possessions, popularity, prestige, and power—the “five Ps.” These are not evil in themselves; they are meant to draw us toward God, who alone can fulfill them perfectly and eternally. But in this present world, where evil still exists, chasing these desires outside of God’s will leads to ruin. The call is to learn contentment, to trust God with what He has given us, and to pursue Christlike character above all else. Godliness with contentment is great gain, and it guards our hearts and lives from the silent destruction of greed.

Lot’s story is a warning: decisions based on greed can take us places we never wanted to go, cause pain we never intended, and result in losses we never imagined. Yet, even in Lot’s failure, God’s grace is evident—Lot is still called “righteous” because he retained his trust in God. The invitation is to examine our own hearts, to root out greed, and to steward faithfully what God has entrusted to us, looking forward to the eternal fulfillment of all our deepest desires in His kingdom.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Our Decisions Are Shaped by Our Inner Condition Every choice we make is influenced by the state of our hearts—our desires, fears, and longings. If we are unaware of what is governing us internally, we risk making decisions that are distorted or self-serving. God calls us to honest self-examination and to bring our motives before Him, seeking His will above our own. Only then can we make decisions that are truly godly and life-giving. [02:20]
• 2. Greed Promises Fulfillment but Delivers Regret Greed is deceptive; it whispers that more—more comfort, more possessions, more status—will finally satisfy us. But as Lot’s life shows, chasing after “more” outside of God’s will leads to disappointment, loss, and even the harm of those we love. True fulfillment is not found in what we accumulate, but in who we become as we trust and follow Christ. [18:37]
• 3. God’s Purpose for Us Is to Become Christlike, Not Just Comfortable Our ultimate purpose is not to secure the easiest or most prosperous life, but to become the Christlike version of ourselves God intended. This means embracing a developmental journey—trusting God, learning from His Word, and seizing opportunities to do good. At the end of our lives, we will be measured not by our possessions, but by our growth in Christlikeness and our faithfulness to God’s calling. [09:26]
• 4. The Desires for Pleasure, Possessions, and Power Are Meant to Point Us to God The “five Ps” are not inherently sinful; they are echoes of what God intends to lavish on us in eternity. In this life, however, these desires must be held in check by contentment and devotion to God’s will. Chasing them prematurely or outside of God’s timing leads to ruin, but waiting on God and stewarding what we have with gratitude prepares us for the fullness He promises. [27:05]
• 5. Godliness with Contentment Is Our Safeguard Against Destructive Choices Learning to be content with what God has given us, and pursuing godliness above all, is the path to true gain and security. This inner climate control—peace, joy, and love growing within—guards us from the endless striving and dissatisfaction that greed brings. In a world that constantly urges us to want more, choosing contentment and Christlikeness is a radical, freeing act of faith. [31:31]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:20] - The Challenge of Decision-Making
• [04:28] - The Out-of-Towners: A Modern Parable
• [06:26] - Opportunities or Traps?
• [07:10] - Lot’s Pivotal Choice
• [09:26] - The True Purpose of Life
• [18:37] - The Deception and Destruction of Greed
• [20:03] - Life Is About Becoming, Not Accumulating
• [24:08] - The Myth of Security and the Trap of Riches
• [25:38] - Nearsightedness vs. Farsightedness
• [27:05] - The Five Ps and Their Proper Place
• [31:31] - Contentment and Godliness: The Path to Gain
• [39:12] - Lot’s Downfall and God’s Judgment
• [41:21] - The Aftermath: Regret, Loss, and God’s Grace
• [44:00] - A Call to Root Out Greed and Trust God

Bible Reading

Genesis 13:5-13 (ESV) — > 5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 7 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.
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> 8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.

Luke 12:15 (ESV) — > And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

1 Timothy 6:6-10 (ESV) — > 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Observation Questions

1. What reasons did Lot have for choosing the land near Sodom, and what was the result of his decision? (Genesis 13:10-13)
2. According to Luke 12:15, what does Jesus warn us to be on guard against, and why? [20:03]
3. In 1 Timothy 6:6-10, what does Paul say is “great gain,” and what dangers does he warn about for those who desire to be rich? [31:31]
4. In the sermon, what are the “five Ps” that were described as deep desires God has placed in us? [27:05]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Lot’s decision to move near Sodom was considered unwise, even though the land looked good? What does this reveal about how our desires can influence our choices? (Genesis 13:10-13) [07:10]
2. The sermon says that greed “promises more than it can give” and leads to silent destruction. In what ways can greed distort our decision-making without us realizing it? [18:37]
3. How does the idea that “godliness with contentment is great gain” challenge the way our culture views success and fulfillment? [31:31]
4. The sermon mentions that the desires for pleasure, possessions, popularity, prestige, and power are not evil in themselves. How can these desires point us toward God, and when do they become dangerous? [27:05]

Application Questions

1. The sermon talks about our “inner governing condition”—the state of our hearts when we make decisions. Think about a recent decision you made. What desires or fears were influencing you at the time? How can you become more aware of your motives before making important choices? [02:20]
2. Lot’s story is a warning about making decisions based on greed. Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to choose “what looks best” without considering God’s will or wise counsel? What would it look like to pause and seek God’s direction in those moments? [07:10]
3. The “five Ps” (pleasure, possessions, popularity, prestige, power) are strong pulls in our lives. Which of these do you find yourself most drawn to? How might you surrender that desire to God and trust Him to fulfill it in His timing? [27:05]
4. The sermon says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” What are some practical ways you can cultivate contentment in your daily life, especially when you feel pressure to have more or be more? [31:31]
5. Greed is described as deceptive and destructive, not just to ourselves but to those connected to us. Can you think of a time when your pursuit of “more” affected your relationships or well-being? What did you learn from that experience? [18:37]
6. The story of Lot ends with God’s grace—Lot is still called “righteous” despite his failures. How does this encourage you when you look back on your own mistakes or regrets? How can you move forward in faith and trust God’s forgiveness? [41:21]
7. The sermon challenges us to steward what God has given us and to look forward to the eternal fulfillment of our desires in His kingdom. What is one area of your life (time, money, relationships, talents) where you want to be a more faithful steward this week? What is a specific step you can take? [44:00]