“All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.” – Proverbs 21:26

Desire is part of what makes us human. From the moment we wake up, we want – a cup of coffee, a few more minutes of sleep, success in our careers, affections from those we love, or peace in our often chaotic lives. There’s nothing wrong with desire in itself. In fact, God has wired us to long for good things. But Proverbs 21:26 draws a sharp distinction between two kinds of people: those who live in a cycle of constant craving and those who live generously, open handedly and freely. 

The first part of the verse is almost haunting in its repetition: “All day long he craves and craves.” There’s an emptiness in that line –  a sense of someone stuck in a loop, always longing, never satisfied. It’s not just a passing moment of desire, it’s a lifestyle built around it. The Hebrew word for “craves” here carries the sense of deep hunger or lust – not merely wanting something, but being consumed by it. We’ve all seen this in the world around us, and if we’re honest, in ourselves. The person who always wants more but is never quite content. The one who thinks happiness is just one promotion away, or a new relationship, an achievement, or a purchase. There’s always something else to attin, always one more thing that promises fulfillment – and yet, the hunger still grows. 

But the second half of the verse shifts the focus entirely: “But the righteous gives and does not hold back.” Here I see a radically different way of living. The righteous person – not merely religious or moral, but someone who lives rightly before God – is not consumed by desire, but driven by generosity. They aren’t defined by what they lack or want, but by what they are willing to give. They don’t clutch their resources tightly. They don’t wait until they have “enough” to be generous. They simply give – and they do it freely and wholeheartedly. 

That phrase, “does not hold back,” is incredibly powerful. It speaks to a posture of open hands and open hearts. It reminds us that righteousness is not just about private virtue, but how we treat others. Generosity is not a side effect of wealth, knowledge, or abundance – it’s a mark of Godly character. And here’s the paradox: the person who always craves is never fulfilled, while the one who gives sacrificially without holdy back often experiences the deepest satisfaction. 

This truth shows up again and again in scripture. Jesus said “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Proverbs 11:25 echoes a similar theme: “A generous person will prosper, whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Over and over, we’re told that the path to true joy and fulfillment is not through constant accumulation, but through sacrificial generosity. Why is That?

Because giving breaks the cycle of selfishness. It loosens our grip on the things we think we need in order to be happy. It reorients our hearts toward others and towards God. Ultimately, the antidote to relentless craving is not found in acquiring more, but is anchoring our desires to God himself. When we look to him as the source of our fulfillment, we begin to see that many of the things we chase are merely substitutes for the deeper satisfaction only he can provide. As we grow in trust that God truly knows what we need and has already given us much – grace, forgiveness, love, daily provision – our hearts become more content and our hands more open. Instead of asking, “What am I missing?” we start to ask, “What can I share?” This shift doesn’t just change our behavior, it reshapes our entire posture towards life. The more we lean into God’s sufficiency, the more eager we become to give without holding back, confident that we are not running dry, but being constantly refilled by his goodness. When we give, we practice trust – believing that God will continue to provide. We stop living like reservoirs, trying to store up as much as we can, and start living like rivers, allowing God’s blessings to flow through us and into the lives of others. 

Proverbs 21:26 is more than a moral observation, it’s a call to re-evaluate our way of living. Are we the kind of people who spend our days craving, wishing, and yearning for more or something different? Or are we the kind who live with open minds, helpful hands, eager to give, to serve, and to bless? It’s easy to think, “Well I’ll be generous once I have more to give.” or even “I’ll be generous if someone shows me generosity in return.” But giving isn’t about the size of the gift or the prize for giving – it’s more about the posture of the heart. Some of the most generous people have very little in material terms, but what they do have, they share freely. And ironically, they seem to be the most content, the most grounded, the most humble, and the most joyful. 

So today, consider this: What are you craving? Is that desire drawing you closer to God and those around you – or is it leaving you feeling restless, incomplete, confused, and empty? And what do you have right now that you could give? It doesn’t have to be money, but it could be time, love, comfort, encouragement, kindness, or attention. These are all gifts, and in many cases, they’re the ones that matter most. The world tells us to chase more and follow whatever desires we want. But Proverbs remind us that a better life is found when we give. We are called to show the love of Christ to others, so how are you doing that? When we release our grip on what we think we need or want, we often find that we already have enough. God knows our hearts and he knows what we need. We must surrender that to him and allow him to be what we need. This isn’t just about wise living, it is about righteous living and living as Jesus would.