How Much Is Enough?

Greed may be the original sin of Adam and Eve.  Some of the Desert Fathers and Mothers of the church believed this.  These early church leaders thought that Adam and Eve were not content with what God had provided.  There was something more that was within their reach and that was desirable.  So, they took it for themselves.  That's greed.  It seems to me that greed is underneath the other deadly sins such as lust, gluttony, anger, envy, etc.  Just because something is desirable and within one's reach doesn't always mean that we should take it.  Greed is the spirit within us that hasn't answered the question, "How much is enough?"  Greed doesn't seem to have a 'stop button.'  Erich Fromm, a Psychoanalyst and Social Philosopher wrote, "Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction."  Paul had evidently discerned the answer to greed when he wrote, "...for I have learned to be content with whatever I have." (Phil. 4:11, NRSV.)  Greed haunts us like a demon seeking to destroy our lives, families, churches, communities, etc.  We seem to have more and more than we really need, yet we are not content.  The answer to our searching is evidently not outside of ourselves but, inside our self where our relationship with God is created and sustained.