Remember the movie Wall Street, where we heard the famous statement Greed is good?
Well, according to the Bible, God does not agree with that statement at all. In fact, greed is not good, but generosity is very good.
After God rescued the Israelites from slavery. He gave them the 10 commandments to follow. From first to last.
“I am the Lord your God….You shall have no other gods before Me”, – Exodus 20:2-3
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house … nor anything else which belongs to your neighbor’s”. Exodus 20:17.
God gave us this tenth command for our best interests, not to restrict our lives but to enable us to have a better and more worthwhile life. Greed is never satisfied and desiring to have what others have only sets you up for a life of misery.
Learning to be generous releases you from the tyranny of materialism and provides the peace and freedom to enjoy the more important things of life.
Covetousness, envy, and greed is serious to God, and therefore should be serious for us to consider.
Avoiding greed is so important that Paul writes: You must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is greedy … Do not even eat with such people! – 1 Corinthians 5:11.
This is obviously a big deal! So how can we turn our covetousness around so we are focusing less on our wants and more on God? The Bible has lots to say on this subject, but to help us see a positive example, let’s look at some lessons from the life of Abram.
6 Lessons Regarding Giving and Generosity
Being generous is about more than just giving money away. The Bible has a lot to say about giving and generosity, but the account of Abram in Genesis 12-14 provides six examples of generosity that we can put into practice right now.
Care For Those In Need Around You
Abram cared for his orphaned nephew Lot and brought him with the rest of his family to Canaan (Genesis 12:5). God calls us to care for others, so we should be looking for people who need care. If you have trouble finding someone, pray for God to show you someone in your circle who is in need.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” – Philippians 2:3-4
Accept Less to Settle a Dispute
When the herdsmen of Abram and Lot began having conflicts, Abram settled it by letting Lot choose the best land (Genesis 13:5-11). If you’re involved in a dispute with someone, offer to accept less to settle it. And if you’ve ever been mistreated in a settlement, forgive those who took advantage of you.
“The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” – 1 Corinthians 6:7
Help Those Who Have Been Foolish
Lot foolishly chose to live in the wicked city of Sodom, and he was later taken prisoner from there. Despite Lot’s foolish behavior, Abram rescued him (Genesis 13:12-13, 14:12-16). This is symbolic of God’s love and faithfulness to us despite our foolishness.
If God has put you in a position to help people in need, do so even if their own foolish behavior has led to their poverty.
“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35
Give Generously to Kingdom work
Abram voluntarily tithed to Melchizedek, a king and priest of God, from all the goods he seized during his rescue of Lot (Genesis 14:18-20). Give to your church and Christian ministries in a way that demonstrates to others that supporting God’s Kingdom is your top priority, even during times of economic instability. This will be a witness that you honor God first.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 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. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Bless Those Who Work With You
Abram rewarded the men who had helped him rescue Lot (Genesis 14:24). Seek ways to bless those who help you. If you’re an employer, be generous to your workers and make sure they know your company couldn’t succeed without them.
Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.” – Leviticus 19:13
Have the Right Attitude About Money
After tithing and rewarding his men, Abram gave back everything he had seized while rescuing Lot. He didn’t keep any goods for himself. Abram didn’t want anyone to misunderstand his motives, and he didn’t want anything God had not given to him (Genesis 14:21-23).
Don’t let your top priority be about storing up money and possessions for yourself. Choose to be a giver first and trust the Lord to meet your needs.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21
God is calling us to freely share His love, grace, and mercy and to be a blessing to our family, friends, co-workers, the poor – and even people who are suffering because of their foolish behavior. Whatever our current situation may be, we must remember Abram’s model of generosity and respond to God’s call.
More Helpful Bible Verses
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So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. – Matthew 6:32
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Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. – 1 Peter 5:7
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Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things [that you need] will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:32
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Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles… fixing our eyes on Jesus. – Hebrews 12:1
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Through this hard work, we must help the weak and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’. – Acts 20:35
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If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need yet closes his ear against him, how does God’s love abide in him? – 1 John 3:17
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Share with those in need. – Ephesians 4:28
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Look out for each other’s interests and not just for your own. – Philippians 2:4
