Greed for Power

In the Bible Mt. 4:3-11 you can read about the tactics of the devil in tempting man, especially as regards riches, power and money. 

        “Next taking him to a very high mountain, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  ‘I will give you all these’ he said’ if you fall at my feet and worship me.’  Then Jesus replied, ‘Be off, Satan!  For scripture says: You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him  alone.’  Then the devil left him, and angels appeared and looked after him.” 

Surely this has been a common strategy of the devil to tempt human weakness by the attraction of the passing goods and beauty of earthly things and creatures.  But Jesus shows us that by prayer and God’s word we may ward off such worldly allurements and delusions.

Surely people get deceived by the illusions of popularity, money, power, and politics.  But in the end what is there but only illusion and semblances of grandeur that are as bubbles that blow up in the air and just as quickly disappear.  Let’s only remember the humble life of Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life (cf. Jn. 14:6).  Remember history and do not repeat the past big mistakes of people.

       “Though being divine in nature, Christ did not claim in fact equality with God,  but emptied himself, taking on the nature of a servant, made in human likeness, and in his appearance found as a man.  He humbled himself by being obedient to death, death on the cross.  That is why God exalted him and gave him the Name which outshines all names, so that at the Name of Jesus all knees should bend in heaven, on earth and among the dead, and all tongues proclaim that Christ Jesus is the Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Phil.2:6-11).