Greedy Leading

“For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain” (v7).

“Greed is good.” If you’ve seen the 1987 movie “Wall Street,” you know those are the infamous words of Gordon Gekko. For this fictional corporate raider, there was nothing he wouldn’t do, nobody he wouldn’t destroy to make a buck. Many even say it was Michael Douglas’ Oscar-winning performance planted all the bad financial seeds for the economic meltdown of 2008. I’m not smart enough to figure that out, but I am sure that Gordon wouldn’t be list of elder candidates in one of the Cretan churches. You see, Jesus’ church is a place for men and women on mission. It is no place for mercenaries and greedy leading.

Don’t forget the original reason Paul wrote this letter to Titus. The Gospel of Jesus has turned Crete upside down. There are new believers all across this Mediterranean island. The apostle has moved on to his next mission, probably the Greek seaport of Nicopolis (Titus 3:12). He’s handpicked his “go to” guy to wrap things up. Paul leaves the Big T with a three-point plan. Find spiritual leaders for all of the new churches (Titus 1:3). Stuff a sock in mouths of false teachers (Titus 1:10-11). Implement a sustainable method of teaching believers what it means to be a follower of Jesus (Titus 2:1-10). 

First of all, Titus is scouting for elders. There’s a leadership vacuum in these new churches. Paul gives his guy a list of both qualifications and disqualifications. Most importantly, these dudes need to be “above reproach” (Titus 1:6-7). This is such a non-negotiable that he mentions it TWICE! They are to be faithful husbands, fathers, and followers of Jesus (Titus 1:6). As “God’s stewards” (v7), elders need to always remember that they aren’t just leaders but followers of Christ as well. Then the apostle lists a series of red flags that will eliminate many candidates. “He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain” (v7). Just in case you weren’t paying attention, let’s review. If you’re self-absorbed, you’re out. No hot heads need apply. Addicts should seek help, not a position of leadership. Elders must not be bullies. The last in this is greed. Sorry, Mr. Gekko. Greed is NOT good. Jesus has no place in his church for greedy leading.

A closer look at the original language give us the Greek word aischrokerdes. How do you pronounce it? I don’t have a clue. But I do know what it means. It describes someone obsessed with money or greedy in a shameful way. This is a sordid preoccupation with profit. You don’t want folks taking the spiritual lead obsessed with financial greed. In another letter to Timothy, Paul tells him that anybody “greedy for dishonest gain (Gr. aischrokerdes)” can forget about serving God’s people as a deacon (1Tim 3:8). Check out how the various translators get the idea across. “Not given to filthy lucre” (KJV, YLT). “Not pursuing dishonest gain” (NIV). “Not fond of sordid gain” (NASB). “Not greedy for money” (NKJV). “Not desiring profit for himself” (BBE). “Not be grasping and greedy for filthy lucre (financial gain)” (AMP). “Not money hungry” (The Message).

When you break down this compound word, you literally get “disgraceful (aischro-) acquisition (-kerdes).” It’s not bad to get stuff. It’s never a bad thing to want more of Jesus. As a matter of fact, Paul uses a similar word when he lays his resume and 401k next to his relationship with the Lord. “But whatever gain (Gr. kerdos) I had, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and them as rubbish” (Phil 3:7). Just as they are today, money-grubbing teachers obsessed with finding a way to leverage godliness as a way to get rich back in the first century. Paul tells Tim, “Now there is great gain (Gr. kerdos) in godliness and contentment…But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin. for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1Tim 6:6, 9-10). If you want to be greedy for something, be greedy for godliness. Be greedy for more Jesus.

I don’t think you have to be a brain scientist or rocket surgeon to see why you don’t want a greedy leader in the local church. But don’t miss the fact that these qualities also perfectly describe the Perfect Elder. Jesus. Our Savior is anything but greedy for financial gain. As a matter of fact, despite being wealthier than we can ever wrap our brains around, “yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich” (2Cor 8:9). You do realize Paul’s NOT talking about Christ padding your bank account, right? Right? God is remaking us in His image. A big part of that is turning us from takers into givers. How does Jesus describe our generous God? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son” (Jn 3:16, emphasis added). Over and over and over, the pages of the Bible drip with the amazing grace of our giving God! We’re to give not to gain. As a matter of fact, you can easily say that giving is the godliest way of gaining. 

When it comes His church, Jesus has no place for greedy leading.