According to Jesus, the love of money is a sickness that needs to be cured. Unfortunately, greed is rather hard to self-diagnose, which is why so few Christians confess it. There are, however, symptoms that reveal this common sickness among sinners like us, so let’s do a quick checkup.

Do you ever justify wrong for the sake of saving money? Like getting paid in cash to save tax dollars? Or telling the police officer you have no idea how fast you were driving even when you do? Or telling the cashier your children are younger than they actually are just so you can get the cheaper children’s rate? Or living with/sleeping with/having sex with someone who isn’t your spouse, in part, because you don’t want to spend money on a second rent?

There are more subtle symptoms too, which is why Jesus said that the Pharisees, who donated 10% of their salaries (and garden produce!) loved money. It’s like never quite being grateful for what you have. Or always wanting bigger/better/faster/newer/more. Or worrying about tomorrow instead of thanking God for graciously providing today.

If you are sensing greed in your heart, listen to the words Jesus spoke when surrounded by money-loving sinners: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31,32). Confess your greed to Jesus. You are the very soul that this Doctor came to cure.