In a move that some view as grotesque, Tesla’s board of directors wants to offer Elon Musk a trillion-dollar salary (yes, one trillion is one thousand billion dollars). Columnist Arwa Mahdawi of The Guardian comments that “a potential trillion-dollar pay package in a world where almost 700 million people live on less than $2.15 a day is obscene.”

To be fair, Musk needs to hit several performance-based goals to qualify for that massive payday. The trillion-dollar carrot is viewed by some as a bribe to get Musk to tone down his recent unpopular political antics and focus on his car-building enterprise.

Although Board Chair Robyn Denholm recently warned stockholders, “Without Elon, Tesla could lose significant value,” the advisory firms Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis counseled shareholders to vote against the “astronomical” pay package. This advice prompted Musk to label the advisors “corporate terrorists.”

No matter the justification behind the exorbitant trillion-dollar pay proposal, it appears—on the surface at least—as unbridled greed.

A Danish study reveals that greed, although it may provide some superficial benefits, ultimately is detrimental to the greedy person. Study author Karlijn Hoyer initiated the research to answer the question, “is there anything that greed is good for?” She and her associates discovered that “greedy people tend to have higher household incomes but lower life satisfaction.”

Greedy people tend to be perpetually discontented with what they have and are constantly chasing more. They also experience less satisfying social relationships, have smaller families and shorter-lasting romantic relationships.

As they continue their research, Hoyer’s team will look at the questions, “Do people become unhappy in life, because they are greedy? Or do people become greedy because they are unhappy? Is it a deliberate choice of greedy individuals to have fewer children, or is this a result of unsuccessful relational bonding (because greedy people are not the nicest people to be in a relationship with)?”

In Scripture, the sin of greed (which Paul equates with idolatry in Colossians 3:5) began in Lucifer’s heart in heaven. It continued in Eden, when Adam and Eve coveted the knowledge that Satan offered them. The stories of greed show up in several other biblical examples on through to the sad episode of Ananias and Sapphira.

The problem of greed is powerfully illustrated in Joshua 7—the story of Achan and the riches he pilfered in Jericho. Achan may have felt that taking a gold bar and an ornate Babylonian garment was a minor, victimless misdemeanor, but God knew differently. Greed not only rots the soul of the idolator, it drags down the person’s entire sphere of influence.

God commanded the Israelites to destroy everything associated with Jericho. This test would reveal whether or not Israel followed God unconditionally. Just like in the Garden of Eden, the temptation was great, but not insurmountable. And just like in the Garden, the sin of one person affected the whole population.

Achan’s attempt to hide his crime under his tent was as effective as Adam and Eve adorning themselves with fig leaves to cover their nakedness—be sure your sins will find you out! Joshua and the Israelites, however, went to their next battle not knowing that God refused to go with them. Joshua led his forces to Ai so full of confidence that he neglected to consult the Lord first. Just as Achan believed he could sin with impunity, so Joshua took God’s providence for granted. Their savage beat-down at Ai exposed their vulnerability without God’s leading.

The results of Achan’s greed reverberated throughout the community. God directed Israel to avenge their warriors who died in the battle of Ai—due to Achan’s greed—with the community-inflicted punishment of stoning. All of Israel needed a strong lesson to show that God’s commands are not to be dismissed.

For Reflection

Connecting: Have you ever been a part of a sports team, school project group, or workplace taskforce where the failure of one person affected the whole team? Have you ever been punished due to someone else’s misdeed? How did that make you feel? What did you do to ensure that never happened again?

Sharing: Why didn’t God warn Joshua not to attack Ai because of Achan’s sin? After all, even though God could see under Achan’s tent, Joshua could not.

1. God wanted to give Israel an unforgettable lesson on obedience
2. God wanted to give the surrounding nations the lesson that even Israel will be punished for disobedience
3. Achan became a living demonstration of the adage, “If you can’t be a good example, let your life serve as a horrible warning”
4. Joshua needed to learn not to presume on God’s providence, since he failed to consult God before attacking Ai
5. Achan wasn’t the only greedy person in Israel—many others needed to check their own hearts and motives
6. Other:

Applying: Does God still hold faith communities accountable for the sins of one of its members?

Valuing: How do you evaluate whether your desires are genuine needs, or greedy idolatry? Is it ever okay for you to spoil yourself with something that others may see as extravagant?

~ Chuck Burkeen

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