My 2022 Confession
The most intimidating part of preaching is I'm often preaching to myself. Today's blog topic is no different: confession of sin. My calling is to help remedy sin, and I have the disease of sin myself. We all have a lot we need to confess to both God and those around us. I'll go first and share two big confessions I need to make to God, my wife, and many of you. And I hope this blog inspires you to do the same.
Before I share what a biblical confession is and what confession God convicted me of through my daily prayer and devotions, I want to share a little more about myself.
I am an enneagram 3 (if you need to learn what that means, google enneagram - you're welcome). Threes are success-oriented and wired for productivity, motivated by a need to be (or appear to be) successful and to avoid failure. At my best, I am driven to accomplish my goals, enthusiastic about sharing strategic advice, and willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. At my worst, I can become a chameleon and focus so much on goals that I ignore my feelings and the contributions of others. When I first studied my enneagram personality profile and came across the "3" personality, I was not too fond of it. I didn't particularly appreciate how much I struggled with vanity, what others thought of me, and my constant pursuit of avoiding failure. In full transparency, my life is far more complicated and messy than my Instagram feed represents or my daily clean-cut fashion may communicate. I need to confess! My inner voice often tells me I must make everyone think I have it all together and that my life is perfect. I like to call it my "3ism." But let's be honest, I need to confess it. I have a more significant confession than vanity, and I don't want to admit what it is, but I know I need to, and I hope it helps you to realize what you need to confess.
How about you? What do you need to confess to God? My hope with this blog is that my vulnerability and authenticity with my struggles (and ongoing redemption through Christ) will inspire you to be honest with yourself and God and that you will surrender your will to His will.
This blog post comes from my three-hour silence and solitude with Christ two Fridays ago (December 16). During my time with God, God revealed to me three questions to journal about:
What confession of sin have I never heard someone make?
Do I need to confess what I came up with from question 1?
If yes, what are the implications?
My answer to question one came quickly: the confession of greed. In all my years as a pastor and supporting people through their darkest hours, I have never heard someone publicly confess a struggle with the sin of greed. Yet, after thousands of conversations and my battle with greed (I will define this shortly), greed may be the most significant struggle for Christians of the West, especially for suburbanite Christians I serve alongside.
In Matthew 28:16-20, the Great Commission of Christ, to all believers, calls us to go and make disciples through baptism and teaching them the ways of Christ. Society blindly accepts greed as a great virtue. Greed is NOT the way of Christ.
Let me share what I think greed is and my testimony of overcoming and continuing to overcome greed.
First, let's define greed. Dictionary.com says greed is an intense desire to acquire or possess more than one needs or wants, especially concerning material wealth. It may be a desire for power, status, or simply a desire to accumulate more possessions or money than one needs.
Greed has negative consequences, both for the greedy individual and society as a whole. It can lead to selfishness, lack of empathy, and a disregard for the well-being of others. It can also contribute to social and economic inequality and lead to harm or exploitation of others in the pursuit of personal gain.
Every news outlet is fascinated with the sudden collapse of Crypto giant FTX. Their once-celebrated CEO, Samuel Benjamin Bankman-Fried, is now in jail, and many have lost significant amounts of money due to what seems to be greed. Many will remember the sudden collapse of Enron in 2007, another historical financial collapse that rocked the nation. These are two sad examples of how greed impacts everyone it touches. Although our desire for power and money may not influence a country, it will negatively impact those most precious to us.
The Apostle Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:10, "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Jesus warned in Luke 12:15, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." (NIV) Jesus does not say that money, popularity, attention, influence, and other things our greed chases are not inherently evil. However, the righteous life Jesus calls us to is not synonymous with more wealth, food, power, or things.
My greed is not first for money but for power, influence, recognition, and control. I need outside motivation to monetize my podcasts, blogs, and speaking engagements because I focus on ministry and helping people. Sara wishes I had more desire for money. Ha!
Not long ago, I was upset about not getting a specific opportunity I felt I deserved (entitlement snuck in). I wanted to preach more and felt unvalued, unseen, and unwanted. Anger and frustration quickly took me to an ugly version of myself, and my self-talk sounded more like a horror story than a redemption story. Thankfully, I asked myself what the real reason I was upset was. I hate that I lost two days to resentment because of my battle with greed.
I have some healing to go through and need God's help to make it happen. One thing Sara and I will be doing is a "Spending Fast" throughout January. A spending fast is where you only spend on "needs" and pass on all "wants." We hope to grant God space to change our "want attitude" to gratitude and maybe save some money, too. Gratitude will help me to overcome my greed and give me more time to help people.
What is your greed story? What do you need to confess?
James, the brother of Jesus, wrote in James 5:16, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (ESV) Our healing starts with confessing we have sinned. Find a safe Christian friend or mentor to share your confession and pray your confession to your heavenly father. Admitting it is excellent, but what's next...?
Through prayer, devotion to God's Word and commands, and practicing the presence of God in your life, here are several ways that you can try to overcome greed:
Practice gratitude: Focusing on what you already have and being grateful for it can help to reduce the desire for more. Read Ephesians 5:3-4 for further reflection.
Set limits: Determine what you truly need and do not exceed those limits. Read 1 Corinthians 10:23 for further reflection.
Find meaning and purpose outside of material possessions: Seek fulfillment and satisfaction through relationships, personal growth, and helping others rather than accumulating more possessions and accolades. Read Romans 12:1-2 for further reflection.
Practice generosity: Sharing your time, resources, and talents with others can help to counteract a focus on self and material gain. Practicing generosity is an opportunity for us to trust in God's provision. Read Acts 20:35 for further reflection.
Seek help: If you find that your greed is causing problems in your life or relationships, consider seeking the help of a therapist or counselor to address the underlying issues.
It's important to remember that overcoming greed is a process and may require ongoing effort and self-reflection. However, with the help of the Lord and dedication and practice, it is possible to reduce the influence of greed in your life and cultivate more positive values and behaviors. I hope you take a practical next step to be more grateful and more focused on others in 2023. I am praying with you!
- Jeremy Lefler