What does the Bible say about greed?
Luke 12:15
15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
New International Version (NIV)
The answer
The Bible calls greed sin: covetousness is idolatry, the love of money leads into ruin, and unrepentant greed excludes a person from God’s kingdom. Money and possessions are not themselves evil; the danger is loving them, trusting them, and making the pursuit of them master. God’s remedy is contentment in him, generosity toward others, and forgiveness and transformation in Christ.
Why greed is so serious
- It gives possessions a place that belongs to God. Jesus warned, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses” (Luke 12:15). Greed measures life by what can be accumulated, but possessions cannot supply life’s meaning or lasting security.
- It is idolatry and invites God’s judgment. Covetousness is named among the earthly desires believers must put to death, “which is idolatry,” and God’s wrath comes upon disobedience for these things (Colossians 3:5-6). Paul likewise includes the covetous among those who will not inherit God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:10). Greed is therefore not a harmless personality trait or simply good business sense.
- It ensnares the heart and can lead people away from Christ. Those determined to become rich fall into temptation, harmful desires, ruin, and destruction; “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,” and some have been led astray from the faith through it (1 Timothy 6:9-10). Notice that Scripture identifies the love of money, not money itself, as the problem.
What God calls for instead
- Contentment: “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). This contentment rests on God’s promise never to leave or forsake his people, not on the size of their possessions (Hebrews 13:5).
- Hope in God rather than riches: Wealthy believers are not condemned merely for being wealthy. They are commanded to reject arrogance, place their hope in God rather than uncertain riches, and remember that God “richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).
- Openhanded generosity: Those with resources are to do good, abound in good works, and be “ready to distribute, willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:18). Enjoying God’s gifts is not greed; clutching them as one’s security while refusing generosity exposes the heart’s disorder.
Greed must be repented of, not excused
Greed should be confessed to God and forsaken, whether it appears as obsessive accumulation, dishonesty, envy, stinginess, or finding identity and security in wealth. God promises that confessed sin is forgiven and cleansed through his faithfulness and righteousness (1 John 1:9). After warning that the covetous will not inherit the kingdom, Paul says of former sinners, “Some of you were such, but you were washed. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). In Christ there is both real forgiveness and a genuinely new life, no longer ruled by the craving for more.
Answered from Scripture · reviewed November 11, 2026
Scripture consistently identifies greed—what it terms covetousness—not merely as bad stewardship, but as an idolatry of the inner soul that wars directly against God. From the foundational moral law of Sinai to the warnings of the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles, the Bible reveals that material craving never satisfies, corrupts the heart, and excludes the unrepentant from the kingdom of heaven. Understanding what God's Word says about greed unmasks its insidious deception and points us to the lasting cure found only in Christ: heartfelt contentment in God Himself.
The Law's Restraint
God Forbids Coveting in the Heart
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Exodus 20:17 (NIV)
The moral law caps all commandments by prohibiting inward desiring rather than outward behavior alone.
The Ten Commandments culminate not with a prohibition of outward violence or theft, but with an arrest of inward longing. In Exodus 20:17, God commands, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's." Moses reaffirms this in Deuteronomy 5:21, establishing that God judges the secret appetites of the heart long before they erupt into visible transgressions. In Romans 7:7, the apostle Paul observes that this very commandment exposed the depth of indwelling sin within his own soul, demonstrating that the law strikes at the very root of selfish craving.
Scripture's historical narratives consistently show that uncurbed coveting inevitably breeds disaster. At Jericho, Achan saw a beautiful cloak, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold; as recorded in Joshua 7:21, he coveted them, took them, and brought divine judgment upon his household and all Israel. In Micah 2:2, the prophet exposes wicked men who "covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away," revealing how inner greed manifests as systemic oppression. King Ahab exemplified this sullen sickness in 1 Kings 21:1-4, sulking upon his bed because he could not seize Naboth’s ancestral vineyard, a craving that ended in state-sanctioned murder. Similarly, Gehazi in 2 Kings 5:20-27 ran deceitfully after the Syrian commander Naaman to obtain silver garments, only to have Naaman's leprosy cling to him and his descendants forever. Covetousness promises satisfaction, but its immediate fruit is spiritual ruin and severe judgment.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Exodus 20:17 | Prohibits coveting a neighbor's house, spouse, servants, livestock, or anything belonging to one's neighbor. |
| Deuteronomy 5:21 | Reiterates the prohibition against coveting or desiring anything that belongs to a neighbor. |
| Romans 7:7 | Paul explains that the law's prohibition against coveting exposed and aroused indwelling sin within him. |
| Joshua 7:21 | Achan confesses that seeing, coveting, and taking the devoted spoils of Jericho brought ruin upon Israel. |
| Micah 2:2 | Denounces those who covet fields and seize houses by fraud and oppression. |
| 1 Kings 21:1-4 | Ahab covets Naboth's ancestral vineyard, illustrating how unchecked selfish craving leads royalty to bitter sullenness and murderous injustice. |
| 2 Kings 5:20-27 | Gehazi pursues Naaman for silver and garments out of personal greed, receiving Naaman's leprosy as righteous divine judgment. |
Wisdom's Exposure
Wealth Craving Never Truly Satisfies
Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NIV)
Solomon plainly demonstrates that financial accumulation possesses an insatiable nature that never provides rest.
The wisdom literature strips away the worldly illusion that wealth produces enduring peace. Solomon writes with piercing clarity in Ecclesiastes 5:10: "He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity." Rather than bringing rest, an insatiable appetite for accumulation guarantees perpetual spiritual discontent. Proverbs 15:16 reminds us that a little with the fear of the Lord is far better than great treasure accompanied by turmoil, while Proverbs 15:27 warns that "whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household." Proverbs 28:22 observes the stingy man racing anxiously toward riches, blind to the poverty that will inevitably overtake him, while Agur in Proverbs 30:8-9 wisely petitions God for neither poverty nor riches, lest surplus lead him to deny his Maker.
Scripture warns that wealth is inherently fleeting and cannot shield the soul from divine accountability. Proverbs 23:4-5 counsels believers not to wear themselves out to acquire riches, for worldly wealth suddenly sprouts wings and flies away like an eagle into the sky. In Proverbs 11:24-26, the contrast is stark: one gives freely yet grows richer, while withholding what is due leads only to lack, just as hoarding grain brings a curse from the community. Proverbs 28:25 notes that a greedy soul stirs up endless strife, whereas trusting in the Lord yields true prosperity. The prophets echo this diagnosis: Habakkuk 2:9 proclaims woe upon anyone seeking to fortify his dwelling through unjust gain, Jeremiah 6:13 exposes a society corrupted from prophet to priest by dishonest gain, Ezekiel 33:31 condemns those whose mouths express devotion while their hearts chase unjust profits, and Amos 8:4-7 announces unsparing judgment upon cheating merchants who trample the poor.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Ecclesiastes 5:10 | Affirms that whoever loves money will never have enough, and lover of abundance never finds satisfaction. |
| Proverbs 15:16 | Declares that a little with the fear of the Lord is better than great treasure accompanied by turmoil. |
| Proverbs 15:27 | Warns that whoever is greedy for unjust gain brings severe trouble upon his own household. |
| Proverbs 28:22 | Describes a greedy man hastening after riches, unaware that poverty and want will overtake him. |
| Proverbs 30:8-9 | Prays for neither poverty nor riches, lest being full lead to denying God. |
| Habakkuk 2:9 | Pronounces woe on him who builds his house by unjust gain to set his nest on high. |
| Proverbs 11:24-26 | One person gives freely yet gains more, while withholding unduly leads only to poverty; withholding grain brings popular cursing. |
| Proverbs 23:4-5 | Do not wear yourself out to acquire wealth, for worldly riches sprout sudden wings and fly away like eagles. |
| Proverbs 28:25 | A greedy man stirs up strife and division, but whoever puts his trust in the Lord will surely prosper. |
| Jeremiah 6:13 | From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for dishonest gain, from prophet to priest practicing deceit. |
| Ezekiel 33:31 | The people hear God's words with mouth-flattery, but their hearts continue pursuing their own unlawful personal gain. |
| Amos 8:4-7 | Unscrupulous merchants crave the end of the Sabbath to cheat scales and swallow the needy, inviting God's sworn wrath. |
Christ's Warnings
Possessions Do Not Define Human Life
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Luke 12:15 (NIV)
Jesus issues an urgent command to guard against covetousness because earthly goods do not constitute life.
When the Lord Jesus Christ addressed human ambition, He severed the false link between identity and net worth. In Luke 12:15, Jesus warns the gathered crowd: "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." He immediately drove this truth home in Luke 12:16-21 through the parable of the rich fool, a man whose fields produced abundantly and who planned larger barns to store his goods, only to die that very night as one who laid up earthly treasure while remaining spiritually bankrupt toward God. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus commands His disciples to store their treasures in heaven rather than on earth where moth and rust destroy, declaring in Matthew 6:24 the absolute spiritual impossibility of dual allegiance: "You cannot serve God and money."
Jesus repeatedly laid bare how the love of possessions paralyzes the soul. In Mark 8:36, He poses the eternal ledger: "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" In the parable of the sower, recorded in Luke 8:14, the seed falling among thorns represents those whose fruitfulness is choked by the cares, riches, and pleasures of life. Luke 16:13-14 records that the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, scoffed openly at His teaching. When the wealthy young ruler approached Jesus in Matthew 19:21-24, his deep attachment to great riches caused him to walk away sorrowful, prompting Jesus to declare how difficult it is for a rich person to enter God's kingdom. Mark 7:21-23 numbers coveting among the defiling sins that erupt from within fallen human hearts, a bondage Judas Iscariot tragically fulfilled in Matthew 26:14-16 by betraying the Son of God for thirty pieces of silver. Conversely, Luke 19:8-9 demonstrates genuine conversion through Zacchaeus, who immediately pledged half his possessions to the poor and vowed fourfold restitution.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Luke 12:15 | Jesus warns the crowd to beware of covetousness because a person's life does not consist in abundance. |
| Luke 12:16-21 | The parable of the rich fool depicts a man storing up wealth for himself while destitute toward God. |
| Matthew 6:19-21 | Commands disciples not to store up treasures on earth where moths destroy, but in heaven. |
| Matthew 6:24 | States explicitly that no person can serve two masters, for one cannot serve both God and money. |
| Mark 8:36 | Asks what it profits a person to gain the whole world yet forfeit his very soul. |
| Luke 8:14 | Warns that the word of God can be choked by life's worries, riches, and pleasures. |
| Luke 16:13-14 | The Pharisees, who loved money, scoffed when Jesus taught that no servant can serve two masters. |
| Matthew 19:21-24 | Jesus reveals how love of possessions hinders the rich young ruler, warning that riches make kingdom entrance extraordinarily difficult. |
| Matthew 26:14-16 | Judas Iscariot bargains with the chief priests to betray Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver. |
| Mark 7:21-23 | Coveting and greed proceed from within the fallen human heart, defiling the person before God. |
| Luke 19:8-9 | Zacchaeus repents of past extortion by restoring fourfold and giving half his goods, demonstrating genuine salvation. |
Spiritual Idolatry
Covetousness Subverts God and Ruins Souls
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:5 (NIV)
Paul defines covetousness by its true spiritual name: genuine idolatry that dethrones God in the heart.
The apostolic epistles strip all respectability from greed, revealing it to be raw spiritual treason against the Creator. Paul writes in Colossians 3:5, "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." To crave created goods above God is to replace Him on the throne of the heart. For this reason, Paul warns in Ephesians 5:5 that no covetous man—whom he expressly names an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. In 1 Corinthians 5:11, the church is commanded not even to eat with a professing brother who is guilty of greed, while 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 lists the greedy alongside thieves, drunkards, and revilers as those excluded from inheriting the eternal kingdom of God.
The New Testament traces the catastrophic wreckage caused by financial lust throughout redemptive history. In 1 Timothy 6:9-10, Paul warns that those who desire to be rich fall into traps and plunge into ruin, affirming that "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils." Second Timothy 3:1-2 names lovers of self and lovers of money as unmistakable markers of moral collapse in the last days, while James 5:1-5 calls rich oppressors to weep and howl for the miseries coming upon them because their hoarded wealth has rotted. Early church history preserves solemn warnings: in Acts 5:1-5, Ananias and Sapphira paid with their lives for lying about their land's proceeds, and in Acts 8:18-20, Peter fiercely rebuked Simon Magus for attempting to purchase the Holy Spirit's power. Romans 1:29 places covetousness at the core of human depravity, while 2 Peter 2:1-3, 2 Peter 2:14-15, and Jude 1:11 expose false teachers who exploit believers, running greedily after Balaam's error for filthy lucre.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Colossians 3:5 | Commands believers to put to death earthly desires, explicitly identifying covetousness as idolatry. |
| Ephesians 5:5 | Affirms that no covetous person, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in Christ's kingdom. |
| 1 Corinthians 5:11 | Instructs the church not to associate with any professing brother who is guilty of greed or idolatry. |
| 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 | Lists the greedy alongside thieves and drunkards as those who will not inherit God's kingdom. |
| 1 Timothy 6:9-10 | Warns that craving riches drowns men in destruction, calling the love of money a root of evils. |
| 2 Timothy 3:1-2 | Identifies lovers of self and lovers of money as central characteristics of difficult last days. |
| James 5:1-5 | Rebukes the rich who hoard wealth, defraud laborers, and live in luxurious self-indulgence. |
| Acts 5:1-5 | Ananias and Sapphira greedily retain part of their land's proceeds while lying to the Holy Spirit, receiving instant death. |
| Acts 8:18-20 | Simon Magus tries to buy the power of the Holy Spirit with money, earning Peter's stern condemnation. |
| Romans 1:29 | Greed and covetousness are numbered among the foundational marks of depraved hearts given over to unrighteousness. |
| 2 Peter 2:1-3 | False teachers exploit believers with fabricated words because of their persistent greed and thirst for personal gain. |
| 2 Peter 2:14-15 | Corrupt men train their hearts in greed and follow the way of Balaam, loving the wages of unrighteousness. |
| Jude 1:11 | Woe to apostates who abandon truth and rush headlong into Balaam's error for dishonest economic profit. |
The Divine Antidote
Godly Contentment Suppplaces Worldly Greed
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
The command against greed is grounded in God's immutable covenant promise to never forsake His own.
The decisive cure for greed is not ascetic deprivation, but finding absolute sufficiency in God Himself. Hebrews 13:5 cuts directly to the soul: believers are commanded to keep their lives free from the love of money and be content with what they have, anchored in God's unshakable covenant guarantee: "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Greed withers when the soul rests in the permanent presence and provision of its Maker.
Scripture consistently elevates this holy satisfaction above earthly accumulation. In 1 Timothy 6:6-8, Paul declares that godliness with contentment is great gain, reminding us that we brought nothing into this world and can take nothing out; basic sustenance and covering are cause for thanksgiving. For those who already possess worldly goods, 1 Timothy 6:17-19 commands them not to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, laying up the treasure of a good foundation for the coming age through joyful generosity.
This contentment is a learned, supernatural posture. In Philippians 4:11-13, Paul confesses he discovered the secret of abiding peace in plenty or in hunger through Christ who gave him strength. Such a disposition requires divine intervention within our desires; hence the psalmist pleads in Psalms 119:36, "Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!" Jesus reinforces this heavenly reorientation in Matthew 6:31-33, calling His disciples to cast aside anxious grasping and seek first the kingdom of God, trusting their Father's faithful supply.
Every station in life feels this practical call. In Luke 3:14, John the Baptist instructed soldiers to cease extortion and be content with their pay. Paul lived this integrity before the church, declaring in Acts 20:33-35 that he coveted no man's silver, modeling Jesus' words that giving surpasses receiving. Pastors likewise must shepherd purely, commanded in 1 Peter 5:2 to serve willingly rather than out of shameful greed.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Hebrews 13:5 | Exhorts believers to keep life free from love of money and be content with what they have. |
| 1 Timothy 6:6-8 | Declares that godliness with contentment is great gain, advising contentment with food and clothing. |
| 1 Timothy 6:17-19 | Charges the rich to trust God rather than uncertain wealth, being generous and rich in good works. |
| Philippians 4:11-13 | Paul testifies that he has learned the secret of facing plenty or hunger through Christ who strengthens him. |
| Psalms 119:36 | The psalmist prays asking the Lord to incline his heart to His testimonies rather than selfish gain. |
| Matthew 6:31-33 | Jesus commands believers to seek first the kingdom of God, trusting their Father to provide earthly needs. |
| Luke 3:14 | John the Baptist commands soldiers not to extort money by threat or accusation, but to be content with wages. |
| Acts 20:33-35 | Paul coveted no one's silver or gold, reminding believers that Jesus taught it is more blessed to give than receive. |
| 1 Peter 5:2 | Elders are exhorted to shepherd God's flock eagerly out of willing devotion, not for shameful financial gain. |
Where in the Bible
| Book | Passages |
|---|---|
| Exodus | 1 · Exodus 20:17 |
| Deuteronomy | 1 · Deuteronomy 5:21 |
| Joshua | 1 · Joshua 7:21 |
| 1 Kings | 1 · 1 Kings 21:1-4 |
| 2 Kings | 1 · 2 Kings 5:20-27 |
| Psalms | 1 · Psalms 119:36 |
| Proverbs | 7 · Proverbs 15:16, Proverbs 15:27, Proverbs 28:22, Proverbs 30:8-9, Proverbs 11:24-26, Proverbs 23:4-5, Proverbs 28:25 |
| Ecclesiastes | 1 · Ecclesiastes 5:10 |
| Jeremiah | 1 · Jeremiah 6:13 |
| Ezekiel | 1 · Ezekiel 33:31 |
| Amos | 1 · Amos 8:4-7 |
| Micah | 1 · Micah 2:2 |
| Habakkuk | 1 · Habakkuk 2:9 |
| Matthew | 5 · Matthew 6:19-21, Matthew 6:24, Matthew 19:21-24, Matthew 26:14-16, Matthew 6:31-33 |
| Mark | 2 · Mark 8:36, Mark 7:21-23 |
| Luke | 6 · Luke 12:15, Luke 12:16-21, Luke 8:14, Luke 16:13-14, Luke 19:8-9, Luke 3:14 |
| Acts | 3 · Acts 5:1-5, Acts 8:18-20, Acts 20:33-35 |
| Romans | 2 · Romans 7:7, Romans 1:29 |
| 1 Corinthians | 2 · 1 Corinthians 5:11, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 |
| Ephesians | 1 · Ephesians 5:5 |
| Philippians | 1 · Philippians 4:11-13 |
| Colossians | 1 · Colossians 3:5 |
| 1 Timothy | 3 · 1 Timothy 6:9-10, 1 Timothy 6:6-8, 1 Timothy 6:17-19 |
| 2 Timothy | 1 · 2 Timothy 3:1-2 |
| Hebrews | 1 · Hebrews 13:5 |
| James | 1 · James 5:1-5 |
| 1 Peter | 1 · 1 Peter 5:2 |
| 2 Peter | 2 · 2 Peter 2:1-3, 2 Peter 2:14-15 |
| Jude | 1 · Jude 1:11 |
The story in order
- God gives the Law at Sinai (c. 1450 BC) · Exodus 20:17 · The Law explicitly forbids coveting, revealing God's heart against greed.
- Achan's greed brings ruin (c. 1400 BC) · Joshua 7:21 · Greed led to sin, defeat, and death for Israel.
- Ahab covets Naboth's vineyard (c. 870 BC) · 1 Kings 21:1-4 · Royal greed leads to injustice and murder.
- Micah denounces greed (c. 700 BC) · Micah 2:2 · Greed is shown as oppressive and fraudulent.
- Habakkuk condemns unjust gain (c. 600 BC) · Habakkuk 2:9 · Woe is pronounced on those who build wealth through greed.
- Jeremiah laments widespread greed (c. 600 BC) · Jeremiah 6:13 · Greed and deceit are pervasive among all classes.
- Jesus warns against covetousness (c. AD 30) · Luke 12:15 · Life's value is not in possessions; beware of greed.
- Parable of the Rich Fool (c. AD 30) · Luke 12:16-21 · Material wealth does not guarantee life or favor with God.
- Jesus on serving God and money (c. AD 30) · Matthew 6:24 · Serving money is incompatible with serving God.
- Judas betrays Jesus for silver (AD 30) · Matthew 26:14-16 · Greed motivates betrayal of Christ.
- Ananias and Sapphira lie (c. AD 33) · Acts 5:1-5 · Greed and lying to the Spirit bring swift judgment.
- Paul on contentment (c. AD 60) · Philippians 4:11-13 · Contentment is learned through Christ's strength, not circumstances.
- Paul warns against love of money (c. AD 65) · 1 Timothy 6:9-10 · The love of money is a root of evil, leading to ruin.
- James rebukes the rich oppressor (c. AD 45) · James 5:1-5 · Hoarding wealth and defrauding workers incurs God's judgment.
Greed leads to ruin
| The act of greed | The consequence | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Achan covets devoted items | Ruin upon Israel, death for Achan's family | Joshua 7:21 |
| Ahab covets Naboth's vineyard | Murder, injustice, and divine judgment | 1 Kings 21:1-4 |
| Gehazi pursues silver from Naaman | Naaman's leprosy as divine judgment | 2 Kings 5:20-27 |
| Ananias and Sapphira lie about proceeds | Instant death for lying to the Holy Spirit | Acts 5:1-5 |
| Judas betrays Jesus for money | Betrayal and ultimately suicide | Matthew 26:14-16 |
| The rich fool hoards wealth | Life is taken away, destitute toward God | Luke 12:16-21 |
Greed excludes from God's Kingdom
| The sin of greed | The consequence | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Covetousness is idolatry | No inheritance in Christ's kingdom | |
| Greedy persons listed among those who won't inherit | Excluded from the kingdom | 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 |
| Love of money is a root of evils | Drown men in destruction and pain | 1 Timothy 6:9-10 |
| False teachers are characterized by greed | Destruction awaits them | 2 Peter 2:1-3 |
| The rich who hoard and defraud | God's judgment awaits them | James 5:1-5 |
The Antidote to Greed: Contentment
| The antidote | Its effect | Biblical basis | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contentment with what one has | Life free from the love of money | Hebrews 13:5 | Hebrews 13:5 |
| Godliness with contentment | Great gain, sufficient provision | 1 Timothy 6:6-8 | 1 Timothy 6:6-8 |
| Trusting God, not riches | Generosity and richness in good works | 1 Timothy 6:17-19 | 1 Timothy 6:17-19 |
| Learning contentment in Christ | Ability to face any circumstance | Philippians 4:11-13 | Philippians 4:11-13 |
| Seeking God's kingdom first | Trusting God for daily provision | Matthew 6:31-33 | Matthew 6:31-33 |
Key words
- Covetousness (Hebrew: ḥāmaḏ (חָמַד))
- An intense, unlawful desire for what belongs to another; greed. · Exodus 20:17
- Greed (Greek: pleonexia (πλεονεξία))
- An intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food. · Luke 12:15
- Idolatry (Greek: eidōlolatreía (εἰδωλολατρεία))
- Worship of idols; excessive devotion or admiration for something or someone. · Colossians 3:5
- Contentment (Greek: autárkeia (αὐτάρκεια))
- A state of peaceful satisfaction; being satisfied with what one has. · Philippians 4:11
- Love of Money (Greek: philargyría (φιλαργυρία))
- An excessive desire for wealth, which can lead to many evils. · 1 Timothy 6:10
Greed promises life, security, and happiness through accumulating more, but Scripture exposes it as an empty, soul-destroying idol. Deliverance from this sin begins when the heart treasures Christ above all worldly goods and rests in God's unfailing promise never to leave nor forsake His people. Contentment in God is true wealth, freeing our hands to hold earthly things loosely and give generously toward eternal treasures.
52 passages, each cited once.
Scripture cited
- Luke 12:15
- Hebrews 13:5
- 1 Timothy 6:6-10
- Colossians 3:5-6
- 1 Timothy 6:17-19
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
- 1 John 1:9