Greed Knows No Limit

 

Imagine sitting with three friends, all hungry and complaining that there’s nothing to eat. So, you decide to take whatever is left in the refrigerator and whip up a meal for them. You place it in front of them, and they gobble it up. But when you come back to the table, they’re clearly full, yet still look so dissatisfied. You ask them what’s wrong, and they start complaining about the quality of the food, the temperature, and even wonder why there wasn’t any dessert.

Now, I don’t know about you, but at that point, I’d pack up whatever I had left and carry myself back home. For greedy people, nothing is ever enough. You could give them the clothes off your back, food from your own kitchen, money from your own pocket—you could build them an entire house—and it still wouldn’t be enough.

It’s important to recognize people with a greedy spirit. They are what many refer to as “energy vampires.” At first, you might think, “What did I do wrong here?” But after dealing with them for a while, you realize you can never do enough. Even when you provide exactly what they lack, they’ll still find something to complain about. Whether they realize it or not, greed tests how much it can drain from a situation. If you walk away, they might feel a certain way, but more often than not, they’ll just wait for the next person with a good heart to come along and try to help them.

Some greedy people have mastered this game. Some have made a living by making others feel guilty for not doing enough. You can see this dynamic in some marriages and family relationships, where one person constantly uses guilt to make others cater to their needs. And no matter how much is done for them, they always want more. That’s what we mean when we say someone is “spoiled rotten.”

Greedy people are toxic, whether they’re aware of it or not. Sometimes greed runs so deep in families that it gets passed down through generations. It can be so subtle that even if you point it out, they’ll be shocked that you think that way. They may claim they have “high standards” or “high expectations,” and there’s nothing wrong with that. Having high standards is great, but greedy people have impossible standards—nothing is ever enough.

Once you recognize you’re dealing with someone who has a greedy spirit, it’s easy to address the situation—unless, of course, you’re married to them or share a close family connection. If you’re dealing with greedy coworkers, friends, or neighbors, you can simply stop providing whatever it is they’re taking from you. There’s no need to feel guilty about not doing enough or about their lack of appreciation. You get to decide how much or how little you want to do for others.

In deeply personal relationships, however, the dynamic is more complex. You may want to maintain some connection, but feel drained by their constant “needs.” In such cases, seeking counseling on how to set boundaries and, most importantly, releasing yourself from the guilt of doing what’s best for you is essential.

Being a generous person is a beautiful thing, and the world needs people who can express generosity safely. The challenge for those with generous hearts is learning when and where to give, how much is appropriate, and when to stop.