Analyses of a Dark Culture | Silly Sins: Greediness

On Fridays I will be posting a phenomenological analysis of a cultural phenomenon or practice. I am calling these posts “Analyses of a Dark Culture.” I want to start with a series on simple, subtle sins that prevent or preclude a strengthening of society. Some might call them “toddler sins” because they seem silly, and they are bad behaviors that we as parents are trying to correct in our children. Nevertheless. 
Even adults still wrestle with gossiping, complaining, teasing, being wasteful, being messy, interrupting, and many other “silly sins.” Indeed, as we try to conform our children to a different standard than these bad behaviors, we find ourselves or other adults exhibiting them. Perhaps we are absorbing them from our children? Perhaps we never conquered them ourselves? 
This week we’ll start with greediness. Partly because several significant Christian thinkers thought greed was the root of evil, not pride. I have found that provocative. But mostly because greediness seems to be the modus operandi of the day. “I’m out for numero uno” may not come out of people’s mouths, but it surely shouts in the way they move. Greediness makes our culture go round.  
Greediness isn't the same thing as greed. (And it’s more than “ness” that distinguishes them.) Greediness is a particular manifestation of greed. Greed is an abstract concept. We understand it to be a generic want for material things. (Not to be confused with covetousness, which wants something because it is meaningful). Greed is given in the concept of Greed or The Greedy Person who wants things. 
Greediness appears differently. There is nothing abstract about greediness. It’s situational and we know when it shows itself. Typically we don’t expect it. And while The Greedy Person is someone who is greedy, greediness can be displayed by persons we wouldn’t expect to be greedy. Like my kids. They act greedy when it comes to scooping ice cream, but I would not label any of them A Greedy Person.
The Greedy Person has fallen victim to greed–he is greedy and we expect him to be such. Therefore, he is perceived as “The Grabber.” But the one who displays greediness isn’t greedy, and we don’t expect him to be such. In the moment, he is perceived as “The Taker.” He doesn’t always, everywhere grab everything, but in this situation he is taking.  
The Greedy Person, “The Grabber,” wants everything all the time; The Person Displaying Greediness, “The Taker,” wants this thing at this time. He is someone we wouldn’t have expected to take this thing at this time in this setting or environment. We know the intention of The Grabber: He grabs because of his greed. But there is an element of surprise with The Taker. 
“If it’s available or unclaimed, and I want it, it’s possible to become mine.” In essence, this is the mental move of one who displays greediness. He sees something he wants and reaches for it. It could be the last slice of pizza. Or it could be multiple slices that he’s taken. He doesn’t want everything, and everyone knows this, which is why they call him out for his greediness. This is unusual behavior. 
If the thing is already in his possession, the Taker’s greediness is displayed in his control of the thing. Perhaps he has only a few cigars left and he doesn’t want to share any. Or he permits others to smoke the old ones, those perceived less valuable. His greediness is exhibited in his “taking away” the new cigars, or better ones, as options. He doesn’t believe he has to share the best, but he can, if he wants. 
In his heart of hearts, the Taker struggles with fairness. On the one hand, he believes in fairness. “I deserve this and you deserve that.” Unlike The Grabber, he doesn’t act like he owns the world. But on the other hand, he has no foundation for his recourse to fairness. It’s relative to his whim. Proportionality or “the same amount” is foreign. So justice is confusing, and generosity is out of the equation.
Three elements of greediness especially stand out to me: self-focus, dissatisfaction, and superiority. The Taker is focused on himself as the center of giving, taking, and sharing, and the sole determiner of what constitutes fair distribution. Because he wants this, he obviously isn’t content with what he has or has had. And he asserts himself as being worthy to make these determinations against our objections. 
In a sense, the intention or desire of The Taker is irrelevant to our identification of his greediness. Unless he names, articulates, or discloses it to us: “Hey, guys, I’m about to take too much!” Rather, his greediness reveals itself to us through our “reading of the room.” It’s social, not personal. We recognize that in this situation he is taking things that aren’t warranted, deserved, or belong to him.  
Greed is deleterious. It will eat the world. In its subtle posture, greediness is dangerous. It undermines and upends the justice and generosity necessary for society. A society of Grabbers would actually be more stable for society because you know what you’re getting. But the surprise and shocking nature of greediness can be far more disruptive. 
Read the room. Space cannot be shared if your outlook is “I can have as many slices as I want if they are there” or “I can share as few toys as I want because I own them.” The wants and needs of others need to be considered in each situation. Read the room. You may not be The Grabber, but don’t fall into the trap of becoming The Taker. Bring light to the darkness.  
Kyle Bennett

Hi, I’m Kyle David Bennett, Ph.D.

I’m Director of Education at Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church, Founder of Seminary for Society, Co-Founder of Project : Neighbor, a 2024-2025 Resident Scholar at the Mouw Institute for Faith and Public Life, and I host a bunch of podcasts: Two Pour Spirits | The Parrhesians | We Make Christians

https://www.kyledavidbennett.com
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