The Root of Sin: Greed and the Call to Thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:3-4)

Don’t give into greed but be thankful

Ephesians 5:3-4 warns, "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving."

At first glance, greed may seem unrelated to the other sins Paul lists-but it is actually their root. Pride says, "I am something. I am god, not God." From that false sense of self-importance flows greed, which says, "Therefore, I must have." Greed is the heart's hunger to possess, control, and satisfy itself apart from God. Whether expressed in lust, impurity, or idolatry, greed demands to be filled-even at the expense of others and our relationship with the Lord.

Sin, at its core, is obedience to selfishness. It makes the self the object of worship and devotion. When we chase what we want instead of surrendering to what God has given, we craft idols in our own image. Every act of sin says, "I deserve more than what God has provided."

Paul offers the antidote: thanksgiving. Gratitude breaks greed's grip. When we thank God for who He is and what He has done, we remember that we are not gods—we are beloved children. Thanksgiving restores right worship, turning our eyes from self to Savior, from grasping to gratitude, and from greed to grace.

Controlled by Love: Living Differently in a Broken World

Paul spends a great deal of time in Ephesians chapter 4—and continuing into chapter 5—teaching believers how to live. He makes it unmistakably clear that those who follow Christ should live differently. Why? Because the life of a believer is meant to reflect the love of Christ.

“Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God.”
— Ephesians 5:2 (GNT)

When love controls our lives, it changes everything about how we act, speak, and interact with others. It’s not something that can be hidden. The evidence should be so visible that even non-believers recognize something different in us. Imagine if the world looked at Christians and immediately saw the character of Christ—if governments, communities, and workplaces saw us as the ones who bring peace, honesty, and hope.

Yet, tragically, Christians are often misunderstood or even persecuted. Still, Paul reminds us that love must remain the foundation of our lives. When we are controlled by love, these qualities naturally flow from us:

• We forgive.

• We are not easily offended.

• We love our enemies.

• We show mercy.

• We are peacemakers.

• We maintain a good reputation.

• We speak with grace.

• We produce good fruit.

• We are honest business owners and wise managers.

• We engage in our communities.

• We pay our taxes.

• We raise godly children.

• We lead with integrity.

These are not just moral guidelines—they are signs of a life transformed by love.

But Paul also gives a clear warning about the things that should have no place among God’s people:

“Since you are God's people, it is not right that any matters of sexual immorality or indecency or greed should even be mentioned among you. Nor is it fitting for you to use language which is obscene, profane, or vulgar. Rather you should give thanks to God.”
— Ephesians 5:3–4 (GNT)

The world today is drowning in sexual immorality, indecency, and greed. Pornography, promiscuity, the distortion of gender and sexuality, and the exploitation of children all point to a society far from God. Indecency—the rejection of moral and upright living—has become normalized.

And greed, at the root of much of this, is simply idolatry in disguise. Pride says, “I am.” Greed adds, “Therefore, I must have.”

Paul does not mince words:

“You may be sure that no one who is immoral, indecent, or greedy (for greed is a form of idolatry) will ever receive a share in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.”
— Ephesians 5:5 (GNT)

The call is clear. If we belong to Christ, we must let His love control every part of our lives—our actions, our words, and even our desires. To live differently is not a burden; it’s a privilege. It’s how the fragrance of Christ spreads in a world desperate for the real thing.

All The Fullness of God

“...and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” — Ephesians 3:19 (ESV)

To know the love of Christ is not merely to understand it intellectually—it’s to experience it so deeply that it changes the capacity of your heart. When you grasp how wide, long, high, and deep His love truly is, something happens inside of you. You are enlarged on the inside—made able to receive and contain more of God Himself.

Think about that: to be filled with all the fullness of God. What if our lives truly operated from that fullness within us? How different would our days look if we lived fully aware of His power, presence, and love working from the inside out?

This thought leads us directly to the next verse:
“Now to Him Who, by the power that is at work within us, is able to do superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think…” — Ephesians 3:20 (AMPC)

That power within us—the Holy Spirit—flows from the foundation of knowing the love of Christ. The more we understand His love, the more room we give His power to move through us.

When I was a young man, I often doubted my future. Would my dreams ever come true? Would I marry, write, or produce films? Fear and discouragement boxed me in—until one day my uncle gave me a sermon by Joel Osteen on this very verse. As I listened, faith sparked inside me. I began to believe again that my dreams mattered because God loved me.

The revelation of Christ’s love isn’t just comforting—it’s transforming. When you know His love, you live from fullness, not emptiness. And that changes everything.

Rooted and Grounded on the Love of Christ

Rooted, Grounded, and Filled with Love

The Bible calls us to be “rooted and grounded” (Ephesians 3:17). Just as no tree grows tall without deep roots and no building stands without a firm foundation, our faith cannot thrive unless it is anchored in Christ, our bedrock.

Jesus said:

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock… and it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”
— Matthew 7:24–25, ESV

Both the wise and foolish builders faced storms, but only the one on the rock stood firm. Sand shifts and conforms; the Rock—Christ—remains unmovable.

Paul also warns, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2). The world’s shifting ideas are like sand, but Christ never changes.

Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:18-19 reveals another dimension:

“That you may have strength to comprehend… what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ… that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Knowing Christ’s love is like turning a flat square into a solid cube. In Euclid’s Elements, a solid is defined as that which has “length, breadth, and depth.” Love gives our lives volume, depth, and purpose.

The love of Christ transforms a blueprint into a living structure God can use. It moves us from passive to active: husbands love sacrificially, workers serve with excellence, leaders guide with vision.

As John Maxwell says, “We are people of value who add value to people of value.”

Rooted in Christ and filled with His love, we can stand strong, weather the storms, and live out our purpose for His glory.