Broken Not Crushed life as a statement, not an apology

“Greed is good.” – Gordon Gekko

“Greed is bad.” – God, Jesus, Paul

Who is right? Well, if I had to bet I’m betting on God, but, like most things, it really depends on your definition. Maybe both are right.

Yaron Brook of the Ayn Rand Institute defines greed:

If you mean the pursuit of short-term gratification at any cost, then I do think greed defined that way is bad.

…what Ayn Rand’s philosophy offers is a different view of selfishness–a view of selfishness as the long-term rational pursuit of self-interest, with one’s own long-term happiness as the primary goal of one’s life. When selfishness is looked at in this way, it’s evident that such pursuits as lying, cheating, and stealing are not selfish. They’re not in one’s long-term self-interest and they’re not the way to achieve happiness.

What’s that got to do with the flesh or the Naked Gospel? Everything.

Andrew Farley (author of The Naked Gospel) defines the flesh as that entity against which we constantly do battle, that tells us we will be satisfied and contented by short-term gains that cannot possibly deliver joy. Money, power, sex, chocolate – you name it, the flesh will tell us it satisfies. Except it doesn’t, and if our hearts have been made new by Jesus, we KNOW it. But we still buy into the lie sometimes, and we regret it.

In other words, our flesh focuses on short-term gratification, rather than on long-term self-interest.

Pursuit of short-term gratification = greed. Equals being led by the flesh.

But pursuit of long-term self-interest, seeking that which can TRULY satisfy, which will TRULY bring joy…doesn’t that necessarily point to pursuit of “higher things”, and ultimately to pursuit of God?

Isn’t that the “Christian hedonism” John Piper talks about? Isn’t that what the Spirit leads us to?

Isn’t the second definition of greed that Brooks offers (above) completely compatible with following Jesus?

Ayn Rand would roll over in her grave at the prospect of agreeing with Jesus. But just because her ideas, with their hostility towards theism, are incomplete, doesn’t mean they are wrong. And this is where I part ways with the Ron Siders and Jim Wallises of the world, who insist that capitalism, the rational pursuit of self-interest, is greed-based and not compatible with “true” Christianity.

As Jay Richards points out in his article, Greed Is Not Good, and It’s Not Capitalism, the greed myth is the “worst myth about capitalism”. (See also “Capitalism Is Not Based On Greed“)

A truly free market won’t allow companies to survive if their focus is on short-term gain, regardless of the cost. But companies that are truly seeking long-term, rational self-interest, can survive, thrive, and SERVE for a long time. Capitalism “channels greed” and “forces win-win exchanges” (Richards).

It’s all about short-term v. long-term. Gratification v. satisfaction. Now v. later. “Happiness” v. JOY. Flesh v. Spirit.

So is greed good? Depends on your definition. Is self-interest good? Definitely.

Still not sure? Ask yourself this: “Why did Jesus endure the cross?” Then check out Hebrews 12:2.

Score one for God. And maybe for Gordon Gekko.