Gratitude vs. Greed: Which Is Guiding You?
4.28.2025
By: Ray SaVonne
Have you ever reached a milestone you were so excited about—finally landed that job, bought the dream car, upgraded your space—only to find yourself almost immediately thinking… “Okay, what’s next?” Yeah, me too.
It’s wild how we can get what we prayed for, hoped for, or even worked overtime for, and still feel like it’s not quite enough. In a society that constantly tells us to hustle for more, buy more, be more—it’s easy to fall into the trap of never feeling satisfied.
Lately, I’ve been doing some soul-searching—recognizing areas in my life where my choices were being driven more by greed than gratitude. Not in any big, flashy way, but in those small, quiet moments that whisper “just a little more and you’ll be okay.”
If you’ve ever felt that way—even just a little—you’re not alone. A few weeks ago, Pastor Robert Madu preached a sermon called “Never Enough,” where he broke down the differences between living from a place of greed versus a place of gratitude—and let me tell you—it hit home. Here are some key takeaways that I want to share:
The Quiet Pull of Greed
Greed isn’t always loud. Sometimes it dresses up as ambition or a simple desire to "level up." But at its core, it’s that unrelenting feeling that this isn’t enough—and neither are you. Greed can sneak into our hearts without us even realizing it, making us overlook the blessings already in our hands. It pushes us to compare, to compete, and to chase approval and accumulation instead of appreciating what we already have. But when we quiet the noise and shift our focus back to gratitude, we begin to see that enough was never about having more—it was about seeing the fullness in what God has already given.
The Grounding Power of Gratitude
Gratitude, on the other hand, shifts everything. It doesn’t mean you stop dreaming or desiring growth—but it does mean you start from a place of fullness instead of lack. When we recognize that what we have (no matter how big or small) is a gift, something shifts inside us. We slow down. We smile more. We live lighter. Gratitude helps us realign our perspective. It reminds us that what we hold isn’t just the result of our hard work—it’s also a reflection of God’s generosity —and that awareness can be deeply freeing!
Gratitude Cultivates Generosity
When we truly appreciate what we have, generosity flows more naturally. A heart full of gratitude doesn’t cling tightly to what’s “mine”—it sees time, energy, finances, and talents not just as things to protect, but as gifts to share. Gratitude shifts our mindset from scarcity to abundance. Instead of fearing there won’t be enough, we begin to trust that there is more than enough to give. That shift makes it easier to be generous—with our words, our help, our love, and our resources. When our hearts are overflowing, it’s easier to pour out.
Small Shifts That Lead to Big Change
Here are a few ways I’ve been practicing gratitude more intentionally—and maybe they’ll help you too:
Daily Reflection: Take 5 minutes a day to name a few things you’re thankful for. Our 5 Minute Journal is the perfect tool to help focus on what you’re thankful for each day!
Mindful Consumption: Before hitting “add to cart,” pause. Ask yourself: Do I truly need this? Am I just bored and buying this? Am I trying to fill a void of something else by buying this?
Acts of Generosity: Give. Whether it’s your time, a kind word, or a helping hand. Gratitude grows when we share it.
Limit Comparisons: It’s so easy to feel behind when social media offers limitless opportunities to remind us of what we “don’t have” or what we “should aspire to.” It has a way of making you question your pace, your progress, or even your purpose. So if you need to unplug—do it. Take the time to realign and refocus on your own path. Something Pastor Craig Groeschel said in a sermon years ago that’s always stuck with me is:
“Comparisons either make you feel superior or inferior—but neither one honors God.”
And he’s right! We weren’t created to measure our worth by someone else’s journey. We were made to walk boldly in our own!
Check Your Heart—Often
The tug-of-war between greed and gratitude isn’t a one-time battle—it’s a daily choice. When we choose to check our hearts regularly and shift our focus to what we do have, we make room for joy, peace, and contentment to flourish. So ask yourself often: What’s guiding me today—greed or gratitude?
Here’s to hearts rooted in gratitude, and lives filled with more than enough!
XO,
The Kléi
