Shakespeare is rightly regarded still as a titan of a playwright. His ability to get at the essence of human nature across such a broad field of genres and characters remains unrivaled.

On the subject of greed, two quotes are quite revealing in light of current events.

From the play Macbeth:

“With this, there grows
In my most ill-compos’d affection such
A stanchless avarice that, were I king,
I should cut off the nobles for their lands,
Desire his jewels, and this other’s house,
And my more-having would be as a sauce
To make me hunger more, that I should forge
Quarrels unjust against the good and loyal,
Destroying them for wealth.

Macbeth IV.iii.77-83

And the brief but poignant comment in Measure for Measure:

To have what we would have, we speak not what we mean.
I something do excuse the thing I hate,
For his advantage that I dearly love.

Measure for Measure, II.iv.118-119

Considering this, try a search in this last week’s headlines for the phrase, “fair share.”

Done? Good. It is abundantly clear that our country has a big problem with greed. It is also abundantly clear that the solution is not to be found in taxes going up or down, political offices turning blue or red, or social programs growing larger or smaller (which is not to say that these issues are unimportant).

The only solution is the contentment that comes from realizing that our fair share is Hell, and Jesus alone is our peace.

So let us, as the redeemed of God, take care that in this life we do not take from our neighbor what is rightfully his, and that we freely give to our neighbor what we have also received – a Gospel treasure we could never deserve.