# Ambition vs. Greed

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambition-vs-greed/59313>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [March 24, 2001, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambition-vs-greed/59313 "2001-03-24T15:12:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambition-vs-greed/59313/1 "2001-03-24T15:12:58Z")

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Mrs. Rastahomie and I are having a bit of a disagreement. You see, I want to be wealthy. I want to have a condo in Miami Beach; I want to have a Cessna; I want to drive a Lexus; I want to pilot my nimble schooner _Felix_ off the coast of Kennebunkport (sorry; _Veggie Tales_ reference); I want to go to work some day and tell my boss to buzz off.

Mrs. Rastahomie, is more or less content with what we have (which ain’t much).

Mrs. Rastahomie says, “Woe to you, O man of greed” (or words to that effect).

So last Sunday we’re in church, and the minister quotes Luke 12:15, where Jesus says:

> [@](#):
>
> “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his posessions.” (New International Version)

As the minister is preaching, Mrs. Rastahomie is looking at me and nodding and agreeing.

Here’s the thing: I don’t _think_ I’m greedy. A greedy person persues wealth at the expense of more important things; I, OTOH, maintain a reasonable balance. I prefer to think I’m **ambitious**. But Mrs. Rastahomie thinks that the very fact that I want wealth and all its trappings means that I’m greedy.

So, please save my marriage (well, not really). In light of this and other Scriptures, does my desire for wealth make me a greedy person?

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**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ambition-vs-greed/59313/2 "2001-03-24T15:33:49Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by rastahomie \*  
> \*\*  
> So, please save my marriage (well, not really). In light of this and other Scriptures, does my desire for wealth make me a greedy person? \*\*

Not necessarily.

**Greed** :_An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth_

**Ambition** : \*An eager or strong desire to achieve something, such as fame or power. \*

However, **ambition** derives from the Middle English word _ambicioun_ meaning \*excessive desire for honor, power, or wealth _.[sup]_[/sup]

In light of scripture? Do you love the idea of wealth more than anything else? If yes, then you are greedy. If not, then keep dreaming about having all those things.

[sup]my thanks to [dictionary.com](http://www.dictionary.com)