Greed Is Now As American As Motherhood And Apple Pie Part 2 of 3

This disposition towards Bigness is what led the agricultural Cattle Barons to shoot down small, individual, Homesteaders and take over their Spreads to enlarge their own.  What led the industrial Robber Barons to destroy smaller companies or take them over to expand their own.

Enlarging one’s own fortune at the expense of others was the test of Righteousness in Calvinism as practiced in America since its founding. 

And, accounts, also, for the fantastic success of The Prayer of Jabez [2000] by Bruce Wilkinson.

The prayer of Jabez was an unadulterated demand for Material blessing.  

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!  Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”  And God granted his request.  [1 Chronicles 4: 10 NIV – New International Version]       

The fact that Jabez has sold some 10 million copies, and millions of Americans are praying the Jabez prayer every day, reflects the deep-seated American desire for Material blessings, not Spiritual. 

And, that is all that American Greed is – a demand by the overwhelming majority of Americans that God bless them with copious Goods – and one helluva good time.

Not their neighbor.  Not the poor.  Not others in America.  Or, the world. 

No! – just them.

However, to be fair, to put American Greed in perspective – it was not always so.

At least, not on this generalized basis of today.  Where the overwhelming majority of Americans are unhappy with the blessings that Jesus has bestowed upon them.  They want more.

The Great Depression [1929-1939] had brought about a sense of Community in America.  A concern for the Common Good.  So had America’s involvement in World War II [1941-1945].

But, the end of World War II in 1945, and, particularly, after the mid-1960s and the anti-Vietnam War protests, the Civil Rights marches, and the Feminist movement, the Rights of the Individual became more important in America than the promotion of the Common Good.

Me became more important than We.

For everyone, from the Janitor in a small Office building to the CEO of a Fortune 5 Corporation in his glass-and-steel corner office on Park Avenue, the pursuit of unlimited wealth became the American Dream.

Throughout my working life on Wall Street, and my personal life in Essex and Bergen counties in New Jersey, I have not heard anyone ever say – I have enough.  I don’t want more.

Have you heard anyone ever say – I have enough, I don’t want more?

In America today everyone wants more and more.

Greed, sadly, is now as American as Motherhood and Apple Pie.

 
Egbert F “Burt” Bhatty has worked 30 years as an Analyst at the American Embassy, New Delhi, and at British [Dunlop] and American [Chase Manhattan] multinationals.  He is a Certified Catechist.  Holds a 3-year [part time] Certificate in Foundations For Christian Ministry.

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