Greed essentially has no limit. It is boundless in its grasping for money or fame and its need to fill others’ minds with ourselves. It leads to a lack of respect for the needs of others because our own needs overrun all normal boundaries and limits. Evagrius sees it this way:
“Avarice suggests to the mind a lengthy old age, an inability to perform manual labor at some future date, and famines that are sure to come. It sees sickness that will visit us, the pinch of poverty, and the great shame that comes from accepting the necessities of life from others.”
The godly virtue of generosity overcomes greed by recognizing that our greatest good is found in sharing with others in community. It celebrates the contributions of others because we are content in the value and place of our own contribution. We no longer possess an insatiable desire for fame or money because we see God’s provision as sufficient.
Evagrius of Ponticus (345-399) as featured in Longing for God: Seven Paths of Christian Devotion by Richard J. Foster and Gayle D. Beebe (Downers Grove: IVP, 2009) 59