The Crime of Avarice
Chevassu. Luke 16:10-13 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.… I. REASONS WHY AVARICE SHOULD BE GUARDED AGAINST. 1. The avaricious man usually leads a miserable life, making no use of his wealth. 2. Avarice takes away a man's peace of mind. (1) The avaricious man is in constant disquietude — (a) Through terror of losing his possessions. (b) Through envy of others, and the craving to possess their property. (c) Through desire to accumulate more wealth. (2) The avaricious man is inconsolable at the loss of his riches. 2. Avarice is a base vice, and the source of many other vices. 3. Avarice almost inevitably leads to eternal ruin. II. MEANS TO BE ADOPTED FOR GUARDING AGAINST AVARICE. 1. Endeavour to know yourself, your inclinations, passions, desires; and examine yourself in order to ascertain whether you cannot find some symptom of avarice within yourself. Such symptoms are — (1) A greater confidence in temporal goods than in Almighty God (Psalm 52.7). (2) Unscrupulousness in the manner of acquiring temporal goods. (3) Excessive grief at the loss of temporal goods. (4) If you do not use temporal goods for the glory of God, nor for your own and your neighbours' needs. 2. Strive to keep from your soul the vice of avarice, (1) By continual struggle against the concupiscence of money and riches (Psalm 62:10). (2) By the exercise of opposite virtues, especially that of Christian charity. You will experience the joys earned by these virtues. (3) By supplication for the removal of the temptation. (Chevassu.) Parallel Verses KJV: He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. WEB: He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.