Remember that toilet paper shortage during the COVID pandemic? There was plenty of toilet paper available and more being manufactured. But a rumor began that there was going to be a shortage of toilet paper and paper towels. Folks ran to the store and bought enough toilet paper and paper towels to last for months. Before then, they’d never thought beyond the next trip to the store. Shelves were soon bare and there was a “shortage,” not because there wasn’t enough toilet paper for everyone but because some folks hoarded all they could find; they were afraid of running out!

Michelle Braddeley, the Deputy Dean of Research at University of Technology Sydney Business School said, “Instincts dominate in stressful situations as a response to panic and anxiety. During times of stress and deprivation, not only people but also many animals show a propensity to hoard.”

Preacher Andy Stanley points to the close connection between greed and fear. “Unbeknownst to most greedy people,” Stanley wrote, “greed is fueled by fear. Once you peel back all the excuses and the endless “what if…” scenarios, you discover a heart full of fear. Specifically, this person fears that God either can’t or won’t take care of him. And if God won’t, who will? So greedy people set out to acquire and maintain everything they need to provide the sense of security they desire.”

Scripture provides us with a tragic example of this phenomenon. Following the Exodus from Egypt, as Israel began its conquest of the land of Canaan, God ordered that the plunder from Jericho, the first Canaanite city to be taken, would belong to him. The people of Israel were to completely destroy everything from Jericho as a demonstration of their devotion to God and their trust that God would continue to bless in the future. The majority complied, but one man, Achan, saw a robe and some silver and gold in the plunder and was determined to have those treasures for himself. He buried the loot in the ground beneath his tent. It was a costly mistake. Israel lost their next battle, and when they questioned why God had let them be defeated, the nation soon learned that it was because of Achan’s greed. Achan and his family were executed.

It didn’t have to end that way. God had already told the people of Israel that He was going to give them a land “flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8; Leviticus 20:24). God had already promised that Israel would own the treasures of the conquered peoples (Deuteronomy 20:14). The people only needed to honor God by obeying Him at Jericho and then the rest of the wealth of Canaan would be theirs. But Achan was afraid that he might miss out, that there might not be anything as nice in the future as what he saw in the present. Achan exchanged greed for faith and paid for his mistake with his life and the lives of his family.

Insecurity and fear lead to poor decisions.

When Bertha Adams died on Easter, 1976, she weighed 50 pounds and the coroner determined she died of “malnutrition.” Those going through Bertha’s possessions found 2 safety deposit box keys. Opening one box, they found stock and cash worth over $800,000. The other box held over $200,000 in cash. With over a million dollars in the bank, Bertha Adams starved herself to death because she was worried that she might need that money “tomorrow.”

Please don’t misunderstand. It’s foolish to spend every dollar and not lay aside a little “for a rainy day.” But some folks, like Bertha Adams, worry so much about tomorrow that they can’t live today. How much is enough to secure the future? Is that same God who has given us what we have capable of giving us more should we need it?

Christian financial experts often recommend the following formula: Give 10% (a “tithe”) to God, right off the top of your income.

Lay aside another 10% in savings for future needs, retirement and emergencies. Live on the 80% that’s left, and enjoy your life.

Jesus encourages us to focus on the needs of others instead of hoarding for ourselves. Luke 12:33 reads, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail…”