Each of the Four Methods has an Anti-method which opposes it. Giving is opposed by greed. There’s a tug-o-war happening between these two principles. Babylon has greed, but the Kingdom of God has giving. Giving leads to life, but greed leads to death.

The question becomes: What defines you? Giving or greed? Life or death? In your day-to-day activities, what do you show more of: Giving or greed? It’s not “Oh, I do those things sometimes” but “what describes me more accurately as a whole?” Not only you as an individual, but what defines the culture around you more? What is the world that you’re creating? Does it lead to the Kingdom of God?

So what does someone look like when defined by giving? They delight in giving to others. When they’re poor, they give. When they’re rich, they give. In every situation, they give. This is because it has become their nature to give, and it gives joy to their hearts. The well-being of others is their well-being. So wherever they go, they make their surroundings beautiful. It’s the same to them whether someone deserves help, or they don’t deserve help. The question for them is: do they need help? Will the Kingdom of God come closer if I help them? When they get together, they build institutions. Institutions that can help far more people than they ever could alone. They themselves are given to, because they gather with people who give. When they pray, the time they give to God isn’t wasted. He sees the beauty of their hearts, and gives freely to them, because they’ve become his friends. When they fast, they give, and they have plenty to give. This is because they haven’t consumed everything in their possession. Instead of feeding their own mouth, they feed those who need it more. Giving has made them into lovers. Their hearts love to give gifts. They give their time to those who need time. They give their service to those who are overburdened with work. They give sweet words to ears that long for sweetness. And after giving everything which was never theirs to begin with, only God remains.

So what does someone look like when defined by greed? They suffer in their greed. When they’re poor, they steal from whoever they can. When they’re rich, they steal from whoever they can. In no situation do they feel a desire to actually help people. This is because  they’ve become greedy to the core, and the thought of helping others pains them. They never believe that someone deserves their help, and they always find a reason not to give. The question for them is: Why should I give to this person? If they get together, they build institutions. Institutions that help them steal more wealth from people than they ever could alone. They themselves are always on the watch over their wealth, because they’ve gathered with the greedy. If they pray, they only pray for their own desires, and God tires of them. This is because they’ve only been a friend to themselves, and not a friend of God. If they fast, it’s only to save up their own wealth. Instead of feeding the hungry, they take what they’ve saved, and consume even more than they did before. Greed has made them into haters. Their hearts love to take from others, but they don’t like giving. They take the time of others, but never give time. They make others serve them, and overburden them with work. They love to hear sweet words, but will never say them. And after taking everything they can from others, they find God in none of it. Only death.

And not all donations are giving. If the only reason you’re donating is because you’d throw those things away anyways, then what good is that? You’re giving to others what you yourself hate. So you reveal yourself by your actions: you only give hateful things to others. But righteousness is giving those things which you still love. Those things which you still want. And by giving love, you’re filled with love. The giver buys food with the purpose of giving it. The greedy will only donate that food once it starts to rot.

With giving, you join yourself to life. With greed, you join yourself to death. God is the life of the world, and the consciousness above all consciousness. Giving your excess will bring you to God. Who can give wealth but the Lord?