But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:3-4).

This is quite the list of impurities that Christians may get themselves involved in. Since, this Friday edition of Wilderness Wanderings focuses on rest and Sabbath, let us focus our attention on greed. James explores how greed destroys community. He writes, "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God" (4:1-2).

Peter offers a further warning when he writes about false prophets (think preachers), "With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood!" (2 Peter 2:14). There are many other such warnings in the New Testament, combining a variety of things we lust for. When we do not cut off such lusts at their root, they cause us to treat everything (and eventually everyone) as tradable commodities. Think of the pornography industry. More difficult to discern is how the accumulation of wealth by some, harms other people.

Our society, like that of ancient Israel and like that of the early church, is one in which the accumulation of stuff (and people who do stuff for us) is rewarded. Success is still often measured by how much we have. This, despite all the evidence that this way of life does not sooth the restless heart. Many of our desires are artificial, conjured up by advertisement executives and by social media reels. Things we have not thought about possessing, suddenly become urgent needs. Greed permeates the very fabric of our common life.

How should Christians, called to be salt and light in the world, resist the urges of greed that arise in our hearts? Our text offers us a very simple method: thanksgiving. Sabbath keeping has always been the way towards thanksgiving. Consider the two reasons given for it. In Exodus, we are told to remember that God rested from his work, reminding us that survival in this world is not dependent on our abilities. In Deuteronomy, we are to remember that we are people rescued by God.

The goal of Sabbath keeping is to develop our dependence on God by refraining to do things that tempt us towards self-dependence. We come before God and give him thanks. Many commentators believe that when Paul wrote, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), he was not addressing the individual Christian but the worshipping community. Whereas there is room for collective grief and lament, the underlying and enduring tones of worship are joy and hope in the Lord.

To give thanks and to rejoice in the Lord are the primary means to uproot greed.

As you journey on, receive Jesus' invitation into this rest:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28-29).