It Costs Too Much - Day 92

It Costs Too Much

By Mike Stickler

Ephesians 5:3
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.

I have a good friend who, in a period of three years, gave away his car three times. His personal car, the one he drives to and from work, to the grocery store, and to shuttle his kids around. Each of these three cars was nothing fancy, just simply late model, solid cars with reasonable mileage, owned free and clear.

Yet it was his car. Not an extra he had in his driveway. Not the one he hadn’t started up lately, or the one he couldn't sell, but his actual mode of transportation. The vehicle he personally depended on each day.

On one occasion, he pulled his kids’ car seats out, grabbed a few personal belongings, and handed the keys over to a single mom who needed it more than he felt he did.

Each time he acted, there were a few common reactions from onlookers. Bottom line? Most just thought he was foolish. My thinking? I thought what wonderful freedom this man lives in. He holds onto his possessions so loosely that he’s willing to bless someone else at any given moment, as the Holy Spirit would instruct.

I think greed can be very subtle in today’s society. Some would interpret avarice as greed, which it is. It’s just a more extreme form of the term. But the greed I speak of here is “measured” and binds to one’s soul. I think the greed we experience most is the kind that elects whether we are going to release an item within our possession based on certain factors. We might ask:
“How inconvenient to me will this be to give away?”
“How much did I pay for it?”
“What is the current value of the item?”
“Does the receiver deserve the value of the item?”
“Am I perpetuating an ongoing problem?”
“Is the receiver living a life in such a way that they deserve this blessing”?

Dictionary.com defines greed this way:
Excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions.

In Ephesians 5, the Apostle Paul warns the church of Ephesus to not even allow greed to be named among us, let alone practice it.

Today’s Generosity Challenge:
Prayerfully ask the Lord what material item(s) – property or money – has such a hold on you as described that you would not likely release it to another party without compensation.

What does He show you?

What is your response to what He shows you?

What are you going to do about it?

Write it down below.

About Michael Stickler

Mike is an author, radio host, and a highly sought after motivational speaker. His best-selling book, A Journey to Generosity, is widely acclaimed throughout the Christian community. He is the publisher of Generous Living Magazine and writes for the Christian Post, 'A Generous Life' column.