Greed
Remember Ebenezer Scrooge? He's stingy, a miser, a skinflint! So many synonyms for someone who is so greedy.
I was listening to a story on the radio one day about a banker who loved money. He loved money so much that he had no time for family or friends. Well, one holiday weekend he got locked up in the vault with all that money that he loved so much. He realized something very quickly. That all the money in the world wouldn't help him that weekend. Since he had no family or friends to miss him, no one knew he was locked up until the weekend was over. He went in a Scrooge but came out a changed man.
I know people that have no debt and money saved up but they wouldn't lift a finger to help someone in need. They just hate the idea of spending money! Then there are people I know that have no money to spare and yet they still give you their money. It's ironic that the ones that have the most are the ones that give the least and the ones that have the least are the ones that give the most. Of course, this is not always true because some very wealthy people give and some very poor people don't. But you do figure out what a person's priorities are.
What are your true intentions? If you give expecting something in return, does that make you feel better?
I heard a joke one time about a rich man that wanted to bring his riches with him when he died and went to heaven. He asked Saint Peter if he could bring in one bag. Saint Peter said yes. So when the rich man died he had a bag with him at the pearly gates. Out of curiosity, Saint Peter asked to look in the bag, then motioned to another, "Get this, he's bringing pavement into heaven." As in heaven. "where the streets are lined with gold."
Remember the person with the most money when he dies does not win!
