The challenge of achieving a good likeness in a relief portrait is to start with a real good photo resource. One of my carvers, named RF (name withheld to protect the innocent) allowed me to take portrait photos of him as he attempted to portray each of the seven deadly sins. Of the many photos I took of RF, the one depicting GREED turned out the best. I particularly liked the wide eyes and the sense of anticipation, even glee in his face as if the object of his greed is all but within his grasp. The "$" symbols were carved into the background to further emphasize the theme.
The Sin
After the thrill of initial possession dissipates, the greedy person is never content. Greed can be defined as "always wanting more". It is a prison of discontent. Those who are greedy trust themselves, not God, to provide their "daily bread". Thus they reject God's promised providence and snub His generosity. Greed makes an idol of one's possesions in the face of God's command that we should fear, love and trust Him above all things. Greed is the "fear, love and trust" of wealth. We "fear" wealth when we respect the power of wealth more than we respect the power of God. We "love" wealth when we give it first priority in our lives, putting God in second place. We "trust" wealth when we depend on it for all our needs more than we depend on God.
