Episode Overview
Podcast: Fresh Life Church
Host: Pastor Levi Lusko
Episode Title: The One Sin You Probably Don’t Struggle With
Date: March 9, 2026
In this sermon, Pastor Levi Lusko explores the insidious nature of greed, identifying it as one of the seven deadly sins that most people fail to recognize in themselves. Contrasting greed's deceptive subtlety with other more obvious sins, Pastor Levi unpacks why greed is rarely confessed but commonly damaging—not only to individuals but to their relationships and spiritual journeys. He challenges listeners to examine their hearts, reframe their understanding of wealth, and practice intentional generosity and gratitude as a way to break free from greed’s grip.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Seven Deadly Sins as a Diagnostic Tool
- Contextualization: Within the church's historic Lenten practice, Pastor Levi explains that the seven deadly sins are a means of "spiritual spring cleaning"—a way to search our hearts for what might be holding us back. (00:30)
- Personal Inventory: Listeners are invited to reflect (privately) on which three sins from the list they struggle with most. Levi specifically challenges the audience to consider if anyone would honestly list "greed" among their top three. (03:00)
2. Greed: The “Invisible” Sin
- Rarely Confessed: Despite 23 years of pastoral experience and hearing confessions of all sorts, "Not once has someone said to me, ‘Pastor, pray for me, I'm greedy.’" (05:30)
- Easy to Spot in Others: "If I had you make a list of greedy people you know, you’d need both sides of the paper!" (07:00)
- Jesus’ Warnings: Jesus warns about greed more than any other deadly sin, suggesting we’re susceptible to it without realizing. (08:00)
3. Why Don’t We Recognize Greed in Ourselves?
- Deceptiveness: “It is possible to have a problem with it and not even know about it, which is what makes greed so deceitful.” (09:30)
- Social Acceptance: Greed is often rationalized—seen as "ambition" or "prudence," and even respected in society.
4. What is Greed? Disordered Love
- Rooted in Love: Greed is described as the "excessive love of money." It's replacing devotion to God with devotion to possessions or what money can provide. (13:30)
- Biblical Imagery: The Hebrew word for covet conveys an image of a panting dog—greed is “panting” after what we don't have. (15:00)
- Ultimate Truth: “Greed is love that’s been tarnished… disordered love.” (18:00)
- Scriptural Reference: "No servant can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and money." —Jesus, Luke 16 (19:00)
- Not About Having Money: “Money is not evil; loving money is the root of evil. Money is amoral; it’s what you do with it.” (21:00)
- Illustrative Analogy: “Money is like a brick: you can build a children’s hospital or throw it through a window.” (23:00)
5. The Many Faces of Greed
- Beyond Scrooge: Greed isn't just about hoarding wealth—it can also manifest in things like status-chasing, security, fitting in, or even a kind of "reverse" greed in obsession with minimalism and simplicity as identity. (28:00)
- Minimalism as Greed: “Even asceticism or pride in simplicity can become an idol if your identity is still based on possessions or their absence.” (32:00)
- Key Insight: Shifting idols—materialism or asceticism—doesn’t solve the real problem: only placing Jesus on the throne of your life does.
6. Why Greed is a Trap: Five Key Truths
i. There Are Many Kinds of Greed (34:00)
- People can be greedy for what they lack or for what they already have; it’s about where you set your heart.
ii. More Will Never Be Enough (38:00)
- “Our addiction to more is like filling the Grand Canyon with marbles. It will never be enough.” (40:00)
- Ecclesiastes cited: Even great success, wealth, or pleasure will not satisfy.
iii. You Can’t Take It With You (42:00)
- “At the end, it’s not your stuff that goes in the box; you go in the box.” (44:00)
- Memorable Analogy: Egyptians tried to take riches to the afterlife—“where he went, he could bring nothing.” (45:00)
- 1 Timothy 6: "We brought nothing into the world and we can't take anything with us when we leave it." (46:00)
iv. Greed Causes You to Miss the Best Parts of Life (48:00)
- Dream Scrolling: The habit of fantasizing about more/better things (homes, shoes, etc.) causes us to "miss out on the best parts of life—people and relationships." (49:00)
- Memorable Quote: “Ministry can do the exact same thing—to be so focused on doing, doing, doing, we forget the being.” (52:00)
- End of Life Reflection: “Not one in a thousand says, ‘I wish I got more money.’ They want to hug, laugh, apologize.” (53:00)
- Proverbs paraphrase: “Better to eat ramen noodle with family in a shack than filet mignon in an empty mansion.” (54:00)
v. The More You Love Money, the More It Messes You Up (56:00)
- Money acts like a drug—the more you give, the more it takes. (57:00)
- “You can possess resources, but the problem is when they possess you.” (58:30)
- Tests of Attachment: “If you can’t imagine surrendering something, it’s no longer a possession but an idol.”
- Example: The rich young ruler in the Gospels who couldn't surrender his wealth to follow Jesus.
7. How Do We Fight Greed? Practical Takeaways
i. Practice Generosity as a “Dress Rehearsal” for Death (01:01:00)
- "Every time you give to God, it’s a dress rehearsal for your death—reminding you you’re not the owner but the steward.”
- Tithing as Training Wheels: Quoting Randy Alcorn: “Tithing is just the training wheels of giving.” (01:03:00)
ii. Foster Contentment Through Gratitude (01:07:00)
- “You can't be unintentionally greedy while actively being grateful.”
- Ecclesiastes 6:9: “Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t.”
- Take inventory and enjoy what you already own—if an item no longer brings joy, give it to someone who can use it.
iii. Embrace Restraint (“I can admire, but not acquire”) (01:10:00)
- “Just because I can doesn’t mean I should. I can admire but not acquire.” —Rick Warren
- Sabbath as resistance: One day a week, Hebrews stopped striving for more as spiritual resistance to greed.
iv. Fight Fear with Focus on Eternal Things (01:14:00)
- Jesus connects fear and finances—He urges trust in God’s provision, not in wealth.
- Luke 12: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom…” (01:16:00)
- Memorable Illustration: The irony of printing “In God We Trust” on money, while placing trust in money over God.
Notable Quotes & Moments
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On Greed’s Deceit:
"It is the nature of deceitful things to trick us into thinking there’s not a problem when there is." (09:40)
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On Disordered Love:
"The only thing we should be panting for is God. The only thing we should be reaching for is Him." (17:20)
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On Idolatry:
"Money is a terrific servant and a terrible master." (20:30)
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On More Never Being Enough:
"There are two sources of unhappiness in this world: not getting what you want, and getting it." (40:45)
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On Possession vs. Being Possessed:
"The issue is not what you possess—it’s what possesses you." (58:30)
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On Generosity:
"Every time you give an offering to God, it’s a dress rehearsal for your death." (01:01:10)
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On Contentment:
"Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t." (Ecclesiastes 6:9, 01:08:30)
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On Restraint:
"Just because I can doesn’t mean I should. I can admire but not acquire." (01:11:00)
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On Fear and Finances:
"Fight fear with focus on eternal things." (01:14:00) "It’s ironic that money is the one thing we print with the words ‘In God We Trust’ on it." (01:17:00)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:30 — Introduction to Seven Deadly Sins and Lenten Context
- 03:00 — Audience Reflection: “What are your top three?”
- 05:30 — Confession: Why Greed is Rarely Admitted
- 13:30 — The Root of Greed: Disordered Love
- 19:00 — Biblical Teaching: You Cannot Serve God and Money
- 23:00 — Analogy: Money is Like a Brick
- 34:00 — Five Aspects of Greed’s Trap Introduced
- 38:00 — The Futility of “More”
- 44:00 — "You Can’t Take It With You" Analogy
- 48:00 — Dream Scrolling & Missing What Matters
- 52:00 — When Ministry Becomes a Greedy Idol
- 56:00 — Money’s Addictive Power
- 58:30 — What Really Possesses You?
- 01:01:00 — The Power and Practice of Generosity
- 01:07:00 — Gratitude and Contentment
- 01:11:00 — Embracing Restraint
- 01:14:00 — Fighting Fear with Eternal Focus
- 01:17:00 — “In God We Trust” and Letting Go
Takeaways & Final Calls to Action
- Ask yourself: What am I unwilling to give up if God asked me to?
- Break greed’s grip: Practice generosity, contentment, restraint, and focus on eternal values.
- Daily Practice: “Every offering is a rehearsal for death—reminding us we are stewards, not owners.”
- Invitation to Salvation: Trust Jesus, surrendering your ultimate allegiance, including your finances, to Him.
- Closing Prayer: An opportunity to ask Jesus to take preeminence over your heart and life, freeing you from greed.
By the end of this episode, you’ll be challenged to examine your own heart, confront greed’s subtle hold, and embrace a more generous, content, and Christ-focused way of living.