When you hear the word money-grabbing, what immediately comes to mind is a recently read statement by Paisius the Svyatogorets, who always speaks very accurately, “to the point,” about the passions and sins inherent in modern people. Money-hunting is a destructive passion for things, and the holy elder explained what its destructiveness is like this:
A heartfelt wish in itself is not evil. But things, even if not sinful, captivate a piece of my heart and reduce my love for Christ. If I wish to receive something useful, for example, a book, and this useful thing captivates a piece of my heart, then such a wish is unkind. Why should a book capture a part of my heart? What is better - to desire a book or to desire Christ?
Mischief: what kind of sin is it?
Interpretation
The meaning of this word can be interpreted in two ways. In the first version, it goes back to the ancient Russian word “mshel”, meaning “self-interest”, in another interpretation - “thing”, “property”, and in the church context of modern language it can be translated as “greed”. Extortion and bribery are in the same category. The love of greed is classified by the Orthodox Church as a passion, and a vicious, sinful one, akin to the love of money.
The second option is more down-to-earth. It is often associated with mossy, i.e. because it was overgrown with moss and mossy. This may mean collecting (usually senseless) old, no longer needed - mossy - things , putting aside food supplies just in case (as they say, for a rainy day).
A striking example of a msheloimtsa is Gogol’s Plyushkin, who was engaged in accumulating all sorts of rubbish for the sake of this process itself.
In the “Orthodox Prayer Book”, in the prayers of the evening rule there is a confession of everyday sins, among which money-grubbing is mentioned.
Plyushkin is a good example.
In former times, prayer books were compiled for monastics, and this sin was condemned when a monk surrounded himself with beautiful or valuable things, collecting and accumulating them, although he had absolutely no need for them in everyday life. Even a layman does not need them on such a scale.
What is sin? Well, a man collects his clothes and doesn’t offend anyone! And this is sinful, from the point of view of the church, for several reasons.
- Things should be used for the purpose for which they were created, and not be exhibits in a “home museum.”
- Buying unnecessary things is already catering to your weaknesses.
- Creating a material cult is essentially creating an idol for yourself, which the Bible warns against.
To accumulate, store, cherish, collect - is this what household items are created for? They must “work”, otherwise a person will become dependent on them and, without noticing it, become stingy and greedy.
A type of the sin of bribery is bribery . What kind of sin is this? The ancient word “bribe” with a completely neutral original meaning is increasingly used with a negative connotation, speaking of corruption and bribery.
Bribery - receiving gifts, offerings for the purpose of bribery, outright bribes.
Over time, this type of money-grabbing also turns into collecting similar gifts, admiring them and boasting to friends, and often direct begging, if not extortion, for one or another object of desire.
The passion of collecting, by and large, is the same thing as msheloying. A man pays a lot of money for some “exhibit” that no one except him will see.
Msheloimstvo is materialism.
In the same way, Msheloim residents also include avid shopaholics , for whom shopping is literally the meaning and purpose of life. Such people can buy so many new clothes that they will not be able to even wear them once. And the main thing is that you can do without them.
This is a kind of idolatry. As, indeed, is the habit of old, tried and tested things (clothes, shoes).
To summarize what has been said, this sin can be defined by a completely modern word - materialism . Its meaning is extremely transparent - pathological love for things, enslavement by them. In this case, the temporary and transitory harms a person’s concern for his fate in Eternity.
Is it possible to get rid of it?
If you sincerely desire, you can get rid of any sin by repenting of it in confession. It is necessary to fight money-grabbing by developing the opposite virtues:
- unselfishness,
- caring about the benefits and gifts of the spiritual plane, and not about perishable things,
- alms,
- mercy to those in need,
- reluctance to accumulate, acquire earthly riches, i.e. acquisitions,
- indifference to wealth
- generosity.
This concerns the spiritual component. The “household” part includes the ability to part with unused things, giving them to someone who needs it.
It wouldn't hurt to carry out frequent systematic inspections of the house and the bins, where deposits of unnecessary things or products may be found.
Before you decide to make your next purchase, carefully consider whether you really need it.
A good step would be, instead of a controversial purchase, which, it is possible, will then simply be shifted from place to place, to actually help someone, perhaps in the store itself, by buying something vital for them.
I would like to cite the point of view of Hieromonk Seraphim (Kalugin), according to which the laity, ideally, can get rid of this sin by literally giving their last shirt to the needy. But since not everyone is mentally prepared for this, it is enough to share at least something that is lying on your shelf as dead weight , but someone really needs it.
The Power of Humility
Why is showing meekness considered weakness? The answer is simple - people believe that defeating another is important and is a show of strength. In fact, there is no more experienced and dangerous enemy for a person than himself
Therefore, victory over oneself should be valued higher than victory over one’s neighbor.
Humility is always filled with spiritual power, transforming a person and everything around. Sins in Orthodoxy: 5 categories
To show humility, a person requires remarkable courage, because there is always a fear that because of concessions he will be considered weak. But if you look closely at the essence of humility, it becomes clear that only a person strong and strong in the Lord can do this. Forgiving and giving in is always more difficult than fighting and belittling another. Also in relationships with the Lord, accepting His will is always more difficult than it seems.
Important! A person must completely trust God, because the path that He has prepared is not always pleasant. More often, the opposite happens, instead of blessings come trials, and the series of temptations does not stop - the Creator works on the heart of a Christian, making it softer and purer, but this is not always a pleasant process
Also, people are accustomed to solving all problems on their own, agreeing, finding ways and means, and the more difficult it is to trust and give everything into the hands of God.
Christ as an example of humility
The main example for a Christian is, of course, Jesus Christ. He represents the ideal of a humble man, but no one can call Jesus weak. If you study the descriptions in the Gospels of the moment of his arrest and interrogation by the Pharisees, you can understand that Christ was submissive both in his relations with people and in his relations with God.
When he appeared before the Sanhedrin, he did not argue with the clergy, did not shout or prove that he was right. He was the same before the king and before Pontius Pilate. The questions that Christ asked were simple and did not sound arrogant or contemptuous. His words were submissive and not defiance; He did not show disrespect or desire to aggravate the conflict.
Christ's submission to God's will even though He wanted to avoid it can be seen by reading His prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 6:39)
Understanding the importance and necessity of his death, He felt fear like any person and would like God to deliver Him from it. Nevertheless, he humbly acknowledges God's authority above His own and says: “But Thy will be done.”
Jesus Christ had amazing humility and meekness
Even knowing what awaits Him, Christ is submissive to God. However, there is no weakness in His words or actions. That is why there is no better example of meekness for believers. “Learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
Nasty profitability
What does this sin mean? The first half of the word is quite telling: bad means something unworthy, “a bad acquisition.” So it is, profit can be obtained in an unworthy way, in a dishonest and unjust way. These include:
Cheating the buyer is a bad profit.
- body kit,
- measurement,
- deception,
- shortchange.
This also includes earnings received from, say, playing cards in a casino , i.e. based on the use of human weaknesses and passions, on their incitement or satisfaction.
Enrichment through the use of one’s authority, official position, and if this concerns the church, then even the priesthood will also be a bad acquisition.
If a person forges or uses counterfeit documents, including a travel pass, or buys stolen goods, this can also be called foul behavior.
It may seem strange, but parasitism is also part of the same tribe. Why? According to the “Orthodox Catechism,” if a person receives payment for something that he does not perform or does not perform properly and does not bring benefit, then he seems to be stealing both payment and benefit.
Definition of concepts
There are several similar definitions that relate to obtaining any profit in the wrong way, by deception. Although synonymous, there are several different definitions for this:
Bad profit - acquiring profit or finances in a bad, unjust way. This should include any body kit or measurement that is done incorrectly and is a fraud. This definition is also suitable for earning money, which was carried out by inciting human passions.
This may include:
Money-grubbing is an excessive love of money, obtaining “mshela” or self-interest. Those. the process by which a person extorts money or other benefits from himself.
This concept may include:
The Orthodox Church condemns bribery
Extortion is the process of violating human rights and freedoms, as a result of which physical benefits are obtained. This concept includes:
Covetousness also has a broader concept - it is covetousness or greed, i.e. excessive love of finances, which pushes a person to do bad things. The Apostle Paul often writes about this passion in his letters to the Colossians and Jews.
More about sins in Orthodoxy:
Important! Regardless of what definition an act falls under, it is a sin, according to the Orthodox Church.
Extortion
A bribe is also extortion.
This concept implies sinful passion, which consists in obtaining one’s benefit by depriving another person, taking advantage of his difficult or hopeless life situation.
Covetous people are able to acquire benefits by using other people's labor or property, the plight of their neighbor:
- assign a high loan percentage,
- load with unnecessary official duties for the same fee,
- raise prices for a particular product.
In a broader sense, covetousness represents elementary greed, love of money, thirst for enrichment. St. Theophan the Recluse classified covetousness as a passion for getting more and more , associated with unscrupulousness when concluding trade transactions, usury, theft, and taking bribes.
To cleanse yourself of this sin and be saved, you must not only realize and stop doing it, but also return what you received through unrighteous means to the offended person, and if this is impossible for some reason, simply perform acts of mercy.
Why is this sinful?
Spiritual fathers give several reasons why such a vice is considered a sin. The main one is the non-use of things for their intended purpose. After all, money-grabbing is simply the storage of collected, purchased or donated items that were created for the purpose of serving people. Violation of purpose is neglect of the Lord's instructions. Further: things should be acquired when necessary, and not for the sake of satisfying a morbid inclination. And most importantly, a person becomes attached to objects, begins to serve them and his passion, although he should serve God. Here it is appropriate to remember about “do not create an idol for yourself,” and such unbridled accumulation is already quite similar to the worship of an artificially created idol.
Confess your sin...
You need to repent for your sins every day and do it consciously, analyzing every situation that arises. You must certainly confess them with sincere contrition in the Sacrament of Repentance in church, in order not only to repent of them, but also to receive forgiveness from the Lord.
Here is an evening prayer from the Orthodox Prayer Book, called “Confession of Everyday Sins”:
“I confess to You, Lord my God and Creator, in the One Holy Trinity, glorified and worshiped Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit, all my sins, which I have committed all the days of my life, and for every hour, and now, and in past days and nights, by deed, word, thought, gluttony, drunkenness, secret eating, idle talk, despondency, laziness, bickering, disobedience, slander, condemnation, neglect, pride, avarice, theft, unspeaking, filthiness, money-gathering, jealousy, envy,
anger, memory malice, hatred, covetousness and all my feelings: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and my other sins, both mental and physical, in the image of my God and Creator I have angered You, and my neighbor has not been truthful; Regretting these things, I present my guilt to You, my God, and have the will to repent; “Indeed, Lord my God, help me, with tears I humbly pray to Thee: forgive me my sins by Thy mercy, and forgive me from all these things that I have said before Thee, for I am Good and Lover of Mankind.”
Orthodox understanding
The Orthodox Church has strong convictions that covetousness is a sin, regardless of a person’s motives. If a person takes someone else’s property or appropriates the property of a loved one, he sins before the church and the Lord, and is covetous. The Bible characterizes this sin and speaks unequivocally about it.
The Bible condemns the sin of covetousness
The set of laws of Scripture (10 commandments) categorically say: “Thou shalt not steal,” and extortion, in its broad concept, can be classified as theft. There are many texts regarding this in Ecclesiastes and Proverbs.
Commandment “Do not steal” “Do not make yourself an idol” Commandment “Do not remember the Lord in vanity”
Orthodox preachers completely agree with the Old Testament authors and talk about the sinfulness of bribes, making money from human passions and other unrighteous profits. Today, bribes and extortion surround a person from all sides (study, medicine, work, etc.), but this does not mean that these phenomena are normal or acceptable.
Important! According to church canons, a covetous person is a person who gives a bribe and who takes it. Thus, both parties are guilty of sin
Both people violate the law of the Lord, and the Apostle Paul does not even recommend eating at the same table with this person.
Why is the sin of covetousness dangerous?
Any sin poisons a person’s spirit, and even a seemingly small offense, for example, a small weight gain when trading, can lead to serious consequences.
What motivates a person to deceive others in order to make money? Love of money. And like any passion, when it is satisfied, a person only further inflames this sinful desire in himself. Along the way, he suppresses his conscience, violates God's commandments and forgets about love for his neighbors. All this only leads to a deeper fall.
There are only 8 deadly sins listed in Scripture, but greed is one of them. And covetousness usually leads to passionate greed, because there is more and more money. In any case, there will be punishment, even if the person once deceived someone.
A covetous person breaks God's commandments and forgets about love for others
Likewise, money-grabbing has a corrupting effect on the human soul. This is rather a sin of poor people, because they begin to consciously accumulate many different things around themselves, which later turns into a serious passion. Any passion other than passion for the Lord and His word is considered sinful. So you should check yourself in acquiring objects, and not just in deceiving others. You should not make idols out of money or objects.
Useful video
You can look at yourself from the outside and see in your image a msheloimtsa or another sinner from this series, you can suddenly and clearly: just attend a funeral and see what the deceased takes with him to the next world - how many expensive clothes and jewelry, money. No one argues that things are needed, but this should be perceived unambiguously: things (in reasonable quantities) should serve man, and not man serve things.
It may seem that, due to technological progress, modern life is completely different from how people lived several thousand years ago. And therefore the sins of people became different. In fact, much has remained unchanged, and people of the 21st century are also susceptible to covetousness. But the names of sins are not always clear. What is covetousness, and is this sin a violation of the commandment? Are covetousness and bribery the same thing? We will discuss these questions in detail below.
New Orthodox people may not understand some concepts that have been preserved undistorted in the Church Slavonic language. It is unacceptable to translate liturgical texts into Russian, since modern words are not capable of conveying all the depth and do not have the necessary capacity. Therefore, care should be taken not to change the scriptures to suit one's own whims.
God's commandments, known to all Orthodox Christians, look brief and extremely clear. But each of them has great depth and wisdom, which people draw from the teachings and interpretations of the holy fathers. Thus, just one commandment can be broken by many different sins that have a common root.
Definition of the concept of “love of money”
The eighth commandment is “Thou shalt not steal.” It can be violated not only by direct theft, but also by such actions as molestation or bribery. What are they and are they different?
This is a type of passion of love of money. The concept means obtaining profit, gain, income in a dishonest, sinful manner. This includes parasitism. The Orthodox Catechism defines it as receiving payment for work not completed. Thus, there is a theft of both wages and the benefits that one’s labor could bring to society.
Mshelomystvo
This is another type of passion of love of money. It consists of acquiring new, useless, unnecessary things. This is a painful love of things, in which acquisition occurs for the sake of a thing, and not for the benefit from it.
According to the teachings of Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov, money-grabbing should be understood as the acquisition of any objects and things out of a whim and desire for luxury. Moreover, this can be done in different ways:
- accepting bribes in goods;
- passion for gifts;
- collecting;
- collecting unnecessary things.
Saint Maximus the Confessor taught that if a person’s mind is attached to earthly things, he does not love the Lord. Man is enslaved by things, which is why concern for eternal fate fades into the background. Jesus Christ himself taught to lay up treasure for yourself in heaven, and not on earth, “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6: 19-21).
Receiving bribes
Collecting
Collecting unnecessary things
Having the root of love of money, this sin is interpreted as follows:
- strong greed for obtaining material wealth by fleecing other people;
- actions consistent with strong greed;
- the passion to have more, to increase one’s property, without making any distinction in the means of achieving the goal: deception in trade and business relations, theft, etc.
St. Theophan the Recluse interpreted this concept as trust in property. At the same time, its volume does not matter, because you can place more hope in a small estate than in God. But you can, being a rich person, completely trust in the Lord and be free from this passion.
