The Temptations of Treasure

 By Vanessa Le - Posted at Gentle Reformation:

Published May 29, 2025

As a Dutch Reformed person, I’ve never considered myself greedy. I know how to scrimp and save money. Growing up, we raised a garden, butchered our own meat, and drank milk from our own cows. I never bought anything new if I could buy it used. I found myself fully sympathizing with the Dutch person in the Dutch jokes my missionary friend told: “How do you get a Dutch man to climb a tree? Put a penny in it.” Yes, I would definitely climb a tree to get a penny! “How do you confuse a Dutch person? Put them in a round room and tell them there is a penny in the corner.” I definitely had to think for awhile before I realized I would never find the penny in that room. With my background, greed felt like it was out of the question. I never lacked for money, but I never wanted it or coveted it either – I had enough and was content. And then, Bitcoin was created.

I got into Bitcoin investment early – before most people knew it even existed. For several years, my investment was there, and I tracked it occasionally, used it occasionally, and marveled at how quickly it appreciated. This past year, however, I have been using it monthly and told myself I would “have fun” playing around with the volatility. I picked a certain amount to buy – and then sell – each month, making it my goal to make money every time. I did well for awhile, and then I played it wrong. And in losing money, my heart has been revealed. Did you know it is possible for a thrifty, Dutch American woman to be greedy? Well, it is.

Jesus says, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15). The context of this warning is that someone asked Jesus to make his brother divide the inheritance with him. Basically, he wanted his fair share, more than he already had. If there is anything that American culture is good at, surely it is good at making us want our fair share, more than we already have. How can we heed Jesus’s warning, fight the culture of materialism and greed, and beware of covetousness? Here are ten suggestions to get us started: ...

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