‘Don’t be greedy!’ We use these words to caution our children when they’re at a birthday party and the cake and sweets come out.
What do we mean by that?
It’s obvious, really. Left unchecked, most children will consume every treat on the table, like locusts, even long after they are satiated. The sugar-rush turns the event into a feeding frenzy and they won’t stop until every last crumb is gone.
That is greed. It is human nature and we need to train it out of both ourselves and our children.
Don’t be greedy! These are not words we are likely to employ with a farmer who sets aside a portion of this year’s harvest as seed to plant for next year’s crop. That is not greed; it is good management. In this context, the greedy farmer would be one who consumes their entire harvest immediately, leaving nothing to plant the following year.
So why do we turn this simple understanding on its head when it comes to money?
How to Overcome Greed
Many Christians think putting money to work in order to produce more money (i.e. a future harvest) is greed. It can be; I must acknowledge that.
But greed is far more often an act of consumption than one of sowing and reaping.
If we are not careful, we can fall into this trap without even realizing it. When we receive our paycheck, instead of acting like the wise farmer, we behave like kids at the proverbial birthday party. In other words, we consume every dime until there is nothing left.
As believers, we need to overcome greed and follow the advice we give our own children.
The money we receive in our paycheck is what God has entrusted to us. As believers it is our duty to be wise stewards of that blessing and to ensure we employ those funds wisely. This means:
- Giving to further God’s kingdom
- Planting seeds for future harvest (Investing) and
- Keeping the lights on – supporting ourselves and our family.
Giving to the Kingdom
Without doubt, the fastest way to overcome greed.
The Bible has much to say about giving. Most Bible teachers agree with the concept that the first portion of our income is for tithes and offerings. Paul was very clear about giving in his letter to the church in Corinth.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Many believers already practice this dutifully each month.
Planting Seeds for Future Harvest – Investing
A second portion of our income should be set aside as seed to plant for a future harvest. This is good stewardship. Saving and investing is not greed. In fact we have to overcome greed in order to save and invest!
Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.
Proverbs 21:20
In this scripture the wise man is not greedy – quite the opposite. Rather, it is the foolish man whose greed prevents him from storing up things of value, like treasure and oil.
The wise man in Proverbs 21:20 is one who has set aside items of value for future employment.
In the modern context, this would allow us to continue giving to God’s kingdom, even after we are no longer able to work. It might generate a passive income that will be able to support us or others in ministry opportunities in years to come.
Keeping the Lights on
Finally, whatever remains is there to support us and our family.
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Timothy 5:8
Why in that order? Because if we start with our personal needs, we are likely to consume it all – like children at a birthday party.
As I write this, I can hear the cries of despair. ‘How can I afford to set aside yet another portion of my income for investment? I’m barely covering my expenses as it is!’
I feel your pain. We’ve all been there. I wish I could offer an easier answer but the only one I have is tough love.
The question you need to ask yourself isn’t, ‘How can I afford to set aside a portion of my income?’
Instead, you should be asking yourself, ‘How can I afford not to?’
Financial struggle is, by definition, the reason we are forced to consume everything we earn. However, it is equally true that financial struggle is the net result of consuming everything we earn. Vicious cycle.
Here is the tough love. The only way to break out of that cycle is by doing something different. If you take one action to break that chain of events, the entire cycle begins to unravel. And there lies freedom!
However counter-intuitive it feels, we have to commit to this. It will be difficult and, yes, there will be times when we feel the pain of that commitment. But persevere.
As a wise man once said, nothing worth achieving in life is easy.