Greed is a sin that is strongly warned against throughout Scripture. The Bible has a lot to say about the dangers of greed and the importance of being content and generous.
Greed is idolatry
The Bible tells us that greed is actually a form of idolatry. When we are greedy, we are putting material possessions and wealth before God. Colossians 3:5 says “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Greed and coveting what others have is equated with idol worship.
The dangers of greed
Greed leads to all kinds of sin and destruction. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 warns us that “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” Greed destroys relationships, distorts values, and can consume our lives. Jesus said in Luke 12:15, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
God owns everything
When we are greedy and possessive, we forget a key truth – God owns everything! Psalm 24:1 tells us “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” Even the abilities and talents we have come from God. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 reminds us that “you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.”
Be content and generous
Instead of greed, the Bible commends contentment and generosity. Hebrews 13:5 says “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” 1 Timothy 6:17-19 exhorts us to be “rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future.”
God cares how we acquire and use wealth
Proverbs 10:22 reminds us that “The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” God wants to bless us, but also cares how we acquire and use money and possessions. Isaiah 1:17 says we need to “learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” Deuteronomy 15:7-10 also calls on us to be openhanded toward the poor and needy.
Do not trust in riches
The Bible warns against trusting in riches instead of God. 1 Timothy 6:17 commands us to be “rich in good works, generous, ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” Proverbs 11:28 also warns that “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.”
Greed will be judged
The Bible makes clear that God will judge greed and misuse of wealth. James 5:1-6 issues a strong warning to the rich who store up treasure on earth and exploit others. Revelation 18:14-19 also describes how those who became rich from their excessive luxury and greed will weep over the destruction of it all. God cares deeply about how we handle wealth and possessions.
Examples of greed
We see greed exemplified in Bible verses like the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:13-21, where the man just kept building bigger barns to hoard his wealth. Achan’s greed after the battle of Jericho led him to steal treasure devoted to God, as seen in Joshua 7. Judas betrayed Jesus out of his greed for money (Matthew 26:14-16). The love of money led Ananias and Sapphira to deceitfully keep back some of their proceeds from the sale of land (Acts 5:1-11).
Bible verses about greed
Here are some other Bible verses about greed and covetousness:
- Luke 12:15 – And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
- Exodus 20:17 – “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.”
- Proverbs 15:27 – Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.
- Proverbs 28:25 – A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.
- Hebrews 13:5 – Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- 1 Timothy 3:3 – Not a lover of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity.
- Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
- Luke 16:13 – No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
We are stewards, not owners
A key perspective the Bible gives on greed is that we are stewards of what God has given us, not ultimate owners. 1 Peter 4:10 reminds us, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” We should hold material possessions loosely and use them for God’s purposes and to benefit others.
Greed goes deeper than behavior
Greed is not just about how we spend our money. It’s about the desires and attitudes of our hearts. Jesus said in Matthew 15:19, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Greed flows from a heart problem.
Christ’s example
Jesus modeled selfless generosity and a willingness to become poor so we could become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 tells us, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” Christ sacrificed everything to give us spiritual and eternal riches.
Ask God for generous hearts
Since greed comes from our hearts, we need to ask God to soften our hearts and make them generous. As 1 Timothy 6:18-19 exhorts, “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future.” We can only become less greedy and more generous through God’s grace.
Putting off greed and putting on generosity
We have to intentionally fight greed with gospel truth and putting on generosity in its place. Ephesians 4:28 gives us this instruction: “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” The key is finding our contentment and security in Christ rather than possessions.
Giving generously breaks greed’s power
One of the best ways to break the power of greed in our lives is to give generously. As we open our hands to give freely to God’s work and meet needs, greed’s hold loosens. As Isaiah 58:10 says, “if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.”
Seek God’s kingdom first
Jesus tells us we cannot serve both God and money. We have to decide which is most important. Matthew 6:33 gives us the key: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Keeping our eyes fixed on eternity helps break greed’s power.
Pray for a generous heart
We can ask God to give us a generous heart that finds joy in giving and being a conduit of His blessings. As 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” God loves to answer this prayer!
In summary, greed is a dangerous sin that the Bible warns against frequently. We must guard our hearts, put greed to death, and instead seek contentment, seeking God’s kingdom first. As we are generous and find our satisfaction in Christ, greed loses its grip on our lives. Then we are free to steward what God has given us for His glory and to meet needs.
