Operation

This week, we continued in our series Operation: Taming and Treating Temptation by tackling one of the most subtle and dangerous sins: greed. While we often only assume greed to be about money, we were reminded that greed is ultimately a heart issue—an intense and selfish desire for something that slowly begins to take the place of God. Greed isn’t always obvious, which makes it so dangerous. It quietly convinces us that more will finally satisfy, when in reality it only leaves us restless, empty, and distracted from our true need for Jesus.

In Matthew 19:16–24, we looked at the rich young ruler who wanted eternal life, but walked away when Jesus challenged him to surrender what he valued most. This powerful moment reminds us that following Jesus isn’t just about good behavior—it’s about wholehearted surrender. Greed becomes an idol when it keeps us from recognizing our need for Christ and trusting Him fully.

We want to challenge you to ask the question this week. “What is the one thing you’re unwilling to surrender to Jesus?”

Let’s cast aside the things that try to take Christ’s place in our hearts and live for Him this week, friends. 

- Pastor Cole Maxwell