Overcoming the Love of Money and the Fear that Fuels It | Ep. 98
Season 5, Part 7 Show Notes of The Raised & Redeemed Podcast (Steps 16, 17 and 21: Greed, Voluntary Poverty and Fear)
Are you constantly hustling just to feel safe? Do you feel like no matter how much you earn or save, it's never enough? What if the root of that anxiety isn't your bank account—but the position of your heart?
Welcome to another deep dive into spiritual warfare and growth. This episode explores Steps 16 and 17 from Thirty Steps to Heaven by Fr. Vassilios Papavassiliou—focusing on the passion of Avarice and the virtue of Voluntary Poverty—with insights from Step 21 on Fear.
The connection between money and fear runs deeper than most of us realize. Often, our attachment to wealth stems not from greed alone, but from fear of lack, insecurity, and doubt that God will provide for us.
Understanding Avarice:
Avarice transcends simple desire for wealth—it's extreme greed and spiritual enslavement to material possessions. St. John Climacus calls it "the worship of idols, the offspring of unbelief."
This passion reflects a heart that hasn't found its worth or fulfillment in God. Those trapped in avarice believe more possessions will satisfy them, leaving them perpetually unsatisfied and in constant anguish.
When John D. Rockefeller, once the world's richest man, was asked how much money would be enough, he replied: "Just a little bit more." This perfectly captures the insatiable nature of greed.
What Scripture Says
Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
1 Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Wealth itself isn't evil—but when pursuing it becomes your primary purpose, it becomes a cruel master.
The Deadly Fruit of Greed
According to Fr. Vassilios and St. John, greed becomes a root passion that feeds other sins:
Envy
Resentment
Anxiety
Selfishness
Hatred
Theft
Inhumanity
Even murder
The Lies We Believe About Money
Lie #1: "Money is Evil"
Truth: Scripture never says money is evil. It's the love of money that becomes problematic. Money simply magnifies what's already in the heart.
If someone is led by the Holy Spirit, wealth becomes a tool for caring for others
If someone is ruled by greed, wealth serves only selfish purposes
St. John writes: "Wealth will be good for the possessor if he does not spend it only on luxury... If he enjoys luxury in moderation and distributes the rest to the stomachs of the poor, then wealth is a good thing."
Lie #2: "I Need More for My Family"
Often this isn't about what our children actually need—it's about what we want: bigger houses, nicer toys, prettier lifestyles.
Lie #3: "I Need More to Give More"
Jesus' response (Luke 16:10): "Whoever is faithful with little will also be faithful with much."
Fr. Vassilios clarifies: "The principle of Christian charity is not the more we have, the more we give; but rather, the less we need, the more we give."
In Mark 12:41, Jesus praised the poor widow who gave two small coins while rich men gave large amounts. He said: "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything."
God cares more about how much we sacrifice than how much we give.
Lie #4: "Giving Results in Material Blessings"
The prosperity gospel teaches that giving results in material blessing. While God honors generosity, the ultimate blessing is eternal, not earthly.
Luke 12:33-34: "Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Lie #5: "Only the Rich Struggle with Greed"
Even the poor can suffer from greed. It's not about your bank balance—it's about your heart posture. The poor can be driven by fear-based striving, anxiety, and unhealthy attachment to money, leading to soul-compromising decisions.
The Root of Greed: Fear
Greed is rarely about money. It's about fear.
Fear that God won't take care of me
Fear that I have to hustle to survive
Fear that without money, I'm worthless
A Personal Testament: When Fear Leads to Darkness
[Michaela shares her personal story of how fear and lack of trust in God's provision led her to sell drugs and later prostitution to pay for college—only to receive a full scholarship shortly after. This testimony illustrates how fear-driven decisions can lead us away from God's plan and into spiritual darkness.]
The turning point: A terrifying encounter with the demonic revealed that my only fear should be the fear of the Lord.
After turning to God for protection, the realization came:
Worth isn't determined by possessions
We don't have to sell ourselves to survive
Each act of obedience over fear reveals God's faithfulness
Holy Fear vs. Unholy Fear (Step 21)
Holy Fear
Deep reverence for God
Says: "God is great, I am small—but I'm safe in Him"
Comes from encounters with the Lord, Holy Spirit, and holy angels
Unholy Fear
Anxiety and panic
Says: "I have to survive on my own. God won't come through"
Comes from the enemy and unholy angels
Fr. Vassilios warns: "To be dominated by fear is a sign of lack of faith and trust in God." It's listening to demons instead of God's voice.
Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
1 John 4:18: "Perfect love casts out fear"
When we understand God's love and fear Him with proper reverence and obedience, we have nothing else to fear.
Luke 10:19: "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."
Voluntary Poverty as a Virtue
Voluntary poverty isn't about being poor—it's about being detached from earthly things and holding what we have with open hands.
Saint John teaches: "The man who has tasted the things of heaven daily thinks nothing of what is below, but he who has had no taste of heaven finds pleasure in possessions."
Examples of Voluntary Poverty:
Giving without expecting return
Living simply so we have more to give
Holding everything with open hands
Being free from anxiety about worldly concerns
The Ultimate Test: Matthew 25:31-46
This passage describes the final judgment where people are separated based on how they treated "the least of these." The righteous are those who:
Fed the hungry
Gave drink to the thirsty
Welcomed strangers
Clothed the naked
Cared for the sick
Visited prisoners
The King's response: "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
Pure Religion Defined
James 1:27: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Personal Testimony: Learning Generosity
[Michaela shares how marriage revealed her scarcity mindset versus her husband's generous family culture. Through experiences like saving half her restaurant meal while her husband freely shared his food, only to discover his mother had prepared abundance to share, she learned that generosity is a heart posture and release of fear.]
Key insight: Every time we cling tightly, we end up stressed and embarassed. Every time we let go, we experience love and see God provide.
Fr. Vassilios writes: "Voluntary poverty is a sacrifice of the will, a surrender of worldly desires for the love of God and neighbor. And in that, we become truly free."
The Battle Plan: Combating Avarice and Unholy Fear
1. Recognize the Spiritual Warfare
Know that the enemy speaks to you in fear and lack, wanting to keep you constantly striving and never fulfilled.
2. Root Your Identity in Christ
Remember: He loves you, made you, and deems you worthy regardless of earthly possessions.
3. Strive to Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
St. Basil reminds us: "You will never become poor by giving to the poor."
Practical step: Set a monthly giving budget for your family so generosity becomes automatic, with room for Spirit-led giving beyond that.
4. Remember Your Provider
Everything you have is from God. When we steward well, He entrusts us with more.
Ask yourself: "Why has He entrusted me with what I have?"
5. Meditate on His Promises
Matthew 6:25-26: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
6. Practice Confession
Confessing struggles to a friend or spiritual father brings them into the light and redirects our focus to truth.
7. Cultivate Gratitude and Presence
Notice what God has provided today; train your soul to see His care.
Conclusion
Greed and fear promise safety but deliver anxiety, isolation, and slavery.
Jesus offers something better: freedom, simplicity, and peace.
Matthew 5:3: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."
Resources Referenced
Thirty Steps to Heaven by Fr. Vassilios Papavassiliou
The Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus
Orthodox Study BibleComing Up Next
Next Week: Exploring the passion of insensitivity and the call to spiritual watchfulness.
May you be filled with the peace of Christ and the courage to give generously.
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