Hey everybody, I’m Anne-Marie Michaelis, a Christian author and coach. Welcome to the Hidden Battles Podcast, a weekly podcast about the hidden battles of spiritual warfare and the struggles that go on in our minds and hearts, and the truth to overcoming these hidden battles. My life was radically transformed during a supernatural encounter with Jesus.

God allowed my eyes to be spiritually opened long enough to see the truth of these hidden battles and to scare the rebellion against him right out of me. In each episode, I share a true story about a real life experience, a teaching, and a final takeaway. This podcast will reveal the hidden battles that lurk in our minds and hearts, and the way out.

Hidden Battles, revealing what the enemy does not want you to know. Please take a moment to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and subscribe to my channel on YouTube, at GodDesign LLC. Podcasts are available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

For a free download of my memoir, visit my website at goddesign.org.

Today in this episode called “The Seed of Greed”, I’ll share a short story of the “seed of greed” that almost slipped in unnoticed the other day and how God gave me a heads up.  This wasn’t the topic I was originally going to talk about, but this one is basically fresh off the press. After I share my story, we’ll dive into what “greed” is, how it can look, and what God’s Word says about it.  Then, we’ll end with reflections.

How did the “seed of greed” almost slip in? Well, a number of years ago, when I was dating my husband, he had given me a diamond tennis bracelet for a gift.  I loved this bracelet and wore it all the time, but the clasp started breaking. Fortunately, the jewelry store it was purchased at, had a lifetime warranty for repairs, cleanings, and other similar issues you can have with jewelry pieces. So, we brought the bracelet back to be fixed.  After a couple months it broke again. This time I almost vacuumed it up.  We went back in and had it fixed a second time.  Again, a few months later, it was broke and laying on the floor.  Had one of the dogs not called my attention to it, it was for sure getting vacuumed up this time. 

I told my husband I really didn’t want to wear it anymore.  I really loved the bracelet, and didn’t want to lose it. So, we went back to the jewelry store and they put a safety chain on the clasp.  I thought for sure that would fix it. A few months later it broke between two of the stone settings and I found it on the floor in the hallway.  It sat in a baggy in the drawer for many months and finally I brought it in two weeks ago to be fixed. 

Fast forward to this past weekend.  The bracelet was fixed so my husband and I went to go pick it up.  While we were waiting for the sales associate to look up our name, we explained how much this bracelet breaks and the sales associate explained to us the trade-up option.  We had heard about this before and talked off and on about this option, but never looked for anything or considered it seriously.  This time, however, it sounded like a great idea.  My husband mentioned, let’s trade-up and find something that you can wear and not worry about all the time. 

Well, anyone that knows me, knows I love my rings. I will wear the same rings every single day over and over again.  I think my love of rings came about because when I was a little girl, my parents had gotten me a super tiny “baby ring” with turquoise stones.  So cute!  When my Dad would go on fishing trips, he would bring me back a turquoise ring from his trip as a souvenir.  I just loved getting a new ring!  So, yep.  Let’s TRADE-UP!  Sounded like a great idea (even though a trade-up had to be WAY up, as in double the cost).  But hey, the bracelet keeps breaking so we should trade-up, spend money AGAIN, and get something BETTER.  Made sense to us in the moment. Or did it? 

The “seed of greed” was being planted in stealth mode. Disguised as normal.  It’s what we people do – right? It’s actually a “benefit” that the store offers.  An “opportunity” … to trade-UP!

We had other errands to do that day, so my husband said, start looking online to see if you can find something you really like, but we have to go and continue running our errands.  So we left the store.  I got into the truck and right away grabbed my phone.  So excited!  Looking for a new ring!  I love rings!  How exciting!!!  I unlock my phone to start my exciting search for another ring and what do I see???  I see my “verse of the day” widget.  Front and center.  Not my first screen, but my second screen.  Oh, how perfectly timed, that my second screen was the last one opened, to this “verse of the day” widget.  What did my eyes see first when I looked down?  I saw the word “GREED” basically looking highlighted within the scripture.  Was it really highlighted?  No, but that’s what popped out of the scripture and grabbed my attention.  Why?  Because deep down, if I was truly being honest with myself, I felt “greedy” just thinking about getting a new ring. 

What was the scripture in my “verse of the day” widget? 

Luke 12:15 (AMP) Then He said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed; for not even when one has an overflowing abundance does his life consist of nor is it derived from his possessions.”

Am I saying that getting a new ring is greedy?  No, of course not, but when that little “knowing” inside of you feels a twinge of a “seed of greed” and you ignore it, staying rooted in the moment of entertaining the “seed of greed”, then for you, it is “greedy” (or in this case “me” it was greedy and greed is a sin).

James 4:17 (AMP) So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin.

When I read the full verse, I knew that God was telling me what I already should have known.  I looked up and said “message received” and told my husband that God’s message on my phone was perfect timing.  No “trade-up” for a ring.  He said “good” and I laughed.  I am grateful for the relationship I have with Jesus and the reminders I get from time to time as I continue to slip up on Satan’s seeds which are WEEDS.  But there should be no hesitation when God speaks, we should listen and obey quickly without hesitation.  I don’t know about you, but what a glorious day it will be to hear what is shared in:

Matthew 25:21 (AMP) …’Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’

… and I most definitely don’t want to hear what is shared in:

Matthew 7:23 (AMP) ‘… I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].’

I know the consequences first hand of disregarding the commands and Word of God.  I’ve seen it, experienced, and have no desire to go there again.  God’s commands are not meant to control us, but teach us, just like as parents we try and teach our children.  Not because we want to manipulate and control them, but because we love them and want what’s best for them, always.

What is greed?  According to Wikipedia, greed is an insatiable desire for material gain (be it food, money, land, or possessions) or social value, such as status, or power.  Greed is kind of the opposite of generosity.  Generosity doesn’t necessarily mean money, it can mean time, food, support, service, and things like this. 

Where does greed come from?

Greed comes from the world.  We talked about the ruler of the world extensively in the previous episodes.  The ruler, prince, or “god” (lower case “g”) of this world is Satan.  Greed does NOT come from God.

1 John 2:16 (AMP) For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world.

What can greed look like?  It could look like more shoes, more clothes, more jewelry, more friends, more booze, more parties, more drugs, more attention, more money, more power, more success, bigger house, better vehicle, and even a better relationship or spouse!  The “seed of greed” can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, depending on what door Satan thinks he can temp you into opening, so he can get his foothold into you. 

What does greed do to us and what does it lead to?

It leaves us empty and never satisfied.  Always wanting “more” or “bigger” or “better” of whatever it is you have the “seed of greed” for.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (AMP) He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its gain. This too is vanity (emptiness).

It reminds me of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  They had an entire garden of trees to choose to eat from, including the Tree of Life.  Only one tree in the garden was off limits, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent (Satan) and wanted the same knowledge as God. They wanted “more.” They were not satisfied. They let the “seed of greed” for “more” or “better” temp them into sin, betrayal, and rebellion against God which are all sinful.

Matthew 6:24 (AMP) “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].

In the case of Adam and Eve, they had the “seed of greed” for forbidden knowledge or we could say that falls under “status” based on Matthew 6:24, they wanted the same knowledge as God (so basically to be elevated to a “godlike” status).  Sounds like something we have going on in society today.

Greed is sin.  It gives Satan a foothold into you.  Basically, like cracking the door open for Satan.  Imagine cracking the door open to your house, meaning your house is YOU! For sure you’d have bugs (flies, mosquitos, wasps, bees, etc) and most likely you’d eventually have rodents and maybe other critters running around your house wreaking havoc.  Chewing things up, building nests, dens, hives, and peeing and pooping all over.   It would stink to high-heaven and become a house of chaos.  Sounds just like Satan, who started to stink to high-heaven, creating chaos and HE had to go!  Well, HE has to go out of our lives, out of our minds, out of our hearts, out of our families, and out of our relationships.  The slippery slope of the “seed of greed” can lead to all sorts of troubles.

Now for some reflections.

So, I ask you, what “seeds of greed” are running around in your “house” that need to be cleaned up?  How can you turn the “seeds of greed” (which are weeds from Satan), into “seeds of generosity” and flip the script you’ve been playing?  Generosity is a godly characteristic. 

1 Timothy 4:8 (AMP) For physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.

1 Timothy 6:6-7 (AMP) But godliness actually is a source of great gain when accompanied by contentment [that contentment which comes from a sense of inner confidence based on the sufficiency of God]. For we have brought nothing into the world, so [it is clear that] we cannot take anything out of it, either.

What is the logical thing to do with any “seeds of greed” that have turned into rodents running rampant in your house (meaning running rampant in “YOU”)?  Start with closing the door, keeping it closed firmly, and throwing out the rodents! 

James 4:7 (AMP) So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. 

He is the rodent. One of Jesus’ purposes in coming into this world is to defeat the enemy (Satan and his army of angels). If you haven’t submitted to Jesus and are still submitted to the world, and you’re ready to be submitted to Christ, let’s pray a prayer of salvation and begin your commitment to walk with Jesus and accept Him into you life!

Heavenly Father, I come to you as a sinner in need of Your grace. I repent of my sins and all “seeds of greed” I’ve allowed into my life, and confess openly with my lips that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I believe in my heart that He died and rose from the grave for my sins. Lord Jesus, I invite you into my life and ask for the Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart; to be my teacher, counselor, comforter, and helper in all areas of my life. Help me to also easily recognize the “seed of greed” so I can flee from the temptation and not fall prey. May Your will be done in my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Hey, friends, that wraps up today’s Hidden Battles Podcast. A transcript along with additional devotionals for this week’s podcast, as well as my memoir, are available for free download on my website at goddesign.org, or check out some of my other books that you may find helpful. If you liked this episode, please share with others. Hidden Battles, revealing what the enemy does not want you to know. Never stop praying, never give up, and I’ll see you next week.