The Bible has a lot to say about money and greed.
From the famous “love of money is the root of all evil” to the rich man and Lazarus parable, the Bible offers valuable lessons and insights on how we should think about and approach wealth and material possessions.
This blog article will explore some of the most poignant and relevant Bible verses on these topics.
23 Powerful Bible Verses About Money And Greed
Whether you are struggling with greed or want to understand what the Bible says about money, this article will provide plenty of food for thought.
Let’s take a look at the various Bible verses that speak about Money and Greed;
Luke 12:15 – Follow God’s Instructions.
” 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
Everyone has been there. We want to believe that Jesus wants us to have everything we desire, and we want it now.
But then we read the Bible, and it says something else entirely: “Watch out, Keep an eye out for all forms of greed.”
So, how do we go about doing that? How can we protect ourselves from greed?
The solution is straightforward. Follow his instructions, and take care of those close to you.
Make a difference in the lives of others. Give back to the community in which you live.
Live simply so you can focus on your relationship with God (and still have time for other things).
Above all, be honest about what is essential and what will not get you anywhere (like money or status).
Matthew 6:24 – You Can’t Serve God And Money At The Same Time.
” No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other. Or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.“
Matthew 6:24
You can’t serve God and money at the same time.
God is the true master of your life, and money is merely a tool to help you achieve your objectives.
If you choose to use it for good, it will be an excellent tool for assisting you in living out your faith.
But if you choose to abuse it, if you use it as a crutch or become attached to it, it will only harm you in the long run.
So make an informed decision.
Proverbs 11:28 – Remember That Riches Are Gifts From God.
“Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.“
Proverbs 11:28
True, we all have our wealth, and some of us are better at concealing them. Some of us are more conscientious about where we keep it, while others are more conscientious about how we spend it.
However, if you want to be a righteous leaf in this life, you must remember that riches are a gift from God, and the only way to ensure that you’re spending your capital wisely is to ensure that they come from God.
You can be confident that it will be worthwhile. Because when your riches come from God rather than yourself, they will help shape you into the person you were meant to be.
Proverbs 13:11 – A Good Investment Will Bloom.
“Dishonest money dwindles, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.”
Proverbs 13:11
This proverb refers to dishonest money and how quickly it finishes. However, it also discusses investing. If you invest slowly and carefully, a little bit at a time, your money will grow.
And once your money has grown, even if someone else steals it from you (or something wrong happens to your business), they won’t be able to take it all right away because there will be some left over.
Proverbs 22:9 – Giving Is Receiving.
” The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.“
Proverbs 22:9
The generous will be blessed because they share their food with the poor.
Not only are they doing a good deed, but they are also showing love to others by doing a good deed. They’re giving more than they have to, and in repayment, they will receive more than they need.
We can all do our part, a little at a time, with our friends, family, and community. It doesn’t have to be anything big or complicated; simply showing up with a smile when you see someone in need is sufficient.
Proverbs 28:22 – Being Stingy Has Consequences.
” The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.“
Proverbs 28:22
Stingy people want to be wealthy and have more money than they need, but they are unaware of the consequences of their actions.
You’re unwilling to share what you have with others when you’re stingy. You think you’re so bright that you know how much money is needed for certain things or what people should buy with their money better than anyone else.
You believe it is acceptable to take advantage of others because they cannot defend themselves!
What happens when we behave in this manner? We become poor.
And we adversely affect others, particularly those closest to us: family members who rely on us financially, friends who depend on us for support, and even strangers.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 – God Has Provided Us With All Resources We Require To Succeed.
” Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the upcoming age, so that they may take hold of the life which is truly life.“
1 Timothy 6:17-19
We all have our struggles, and it’s easy to feel isolated. However, we are not alone.
There are so many people out there who want to help us and make our lives better; all they need is for us to ask.
God has provided us with the necessary resources to succeed, including financial resources.
He desires that we be rich in good deeds (1 Timothy 6:18), which means that we assist others whenever possible.
And when we help others, God opens doors for our future success (1 Peter 4:10) because he knows that when others see how generous we are with our time and resources, they will be inspired by our example and want more from their lives as well.
Proverbs 15:27 – Greedy People Are Never Satisfied With What They Have.
” The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live.”
Proverbs 15:27
Greedy people are never satisfied with what they have, constantly looking for more, and never seem satisfied with what they have.
Because greedy people are always looking for something new, they are never delighted.
Those who despise bribes, on the other hand, will prosper. According to Proverbs 15:27, “the one who despises bribes will live” because he does not need to bribe others to succeed or advance.
His motivations and goals are based on love and respect for himself and others.
Hebrews 13:5 – It Is A Dangerous Emotion.
” 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
Greed is a dangerous emotion; it can get you in trouble and make you feel like your life isn’t worth living. But God has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us.
So we can be satisfied with what we have, even if it isn’t much.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 – More Money Does Not Equal Happiness.
“Whoever loves money never has enough, whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.”
Ecclesiastes 5:10
When you’re wealthy, it’s easy to believe that more money equals more happiness. But this is not the case!
The true secret to happiness is living in the present and ensuring that every experience with money and wealth is positive.
It doesn’t matter how much or how little you have because the only thing that matters is how much you enjoy your life.
1 John 2:16 – The World Is Full Of Temptations.
” For everything in the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life come not from the Father but from the world.“
1 John 2:16
The world is vast. It’s full of temptations and obstacles that can pull us away from God. But guess what? That’s fine.
Because Jesus came to save us from sin, not from ourselves.
Jesus came to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins (Rom 5:8) so that we could spend eternity in heaven with Him (John 3:16). He did it for you and me.
We don’t have to be afraid of being tempted by the world because Jesus has already dealt with it.
So let us focus on what is truly important: serving God with everything we have, loving others as much as possible, and trusting Him with all our plans.
2 Corinthians 9:7 – Giving Is A Choice.
” Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.“
2 Corinthians 9:7
It’s a common misconception that giving only happens when you’ve earned it. But, in reality, giving is a choice to be generous, not a reward for good behavior.
That is why God instructs us to give what we have decided to offer rather than giving reluctantly or under compulsion. He appreciates cheerful givers!
Bible Verses On Wealth And Greed
The Bible has a lot to say about wealth and greed.
From the story of the rich young man who was told to sell all of his possessions and give the money to the poor to Jesus’ condemnation of the love of money as the root of all evil, the Bible offers many insights on these topics.
In this section, we will explore some of the most influential and relevant Bible verses about wealth and greed and what they can teach us about how to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God.
Proverbs 1:19
“So are the ways of everyone greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.”
Proverbs 1:19
Greed can kill in a variety of ways. A greedy person, for example, may take shortcuts to make more money, even if it means putting others in danger.
Or they may take advantage of vulnerable people and exploit them for their gain.
The ultimate victim of greed, however, is the greedy person himself. Their desire will consume them and lead them down a destructive path.
So, if you’re greedy for money, heed this warning and make a change before it’s too late.
Proverbs 21:25-26
“The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labor. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.”
Proverbs 21:25-26
The desire of the slothful man kills him because he refuses to work. He fantasizes about things he doesn’t have all day.
On the other hand, the righteous man is generous with what he has. It’s so easy to be lazy, to do nothing but sit around.
We are allowing our desires to control us. We see something we want and know we have to have it, and we can’t keep ourselves in check. We imitate animals.
But the righteous man is not like that. His desires do not rule him, his principles keep him in check, and he understands that he must work.
He understands that he must be generous. He is not envious of what he lacks.
Ezekiel 22:12
“In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion, and hast forgot me, saith the Lord GOD.”
Ezekiel 22:12
The LORD is displeased with us and has every right to be so. We have forgotten Him and chosen to live our lives in opposition to His will.
We have shed innocent blood, exploited others, rejected His love, and chosen to live in sin.
However, the LORD is a gracious God. He is ready to forgive us if we repent and return to Him, and he is waiting for us to return to His fold with open arms.
All we have to do is repent of our sinful ways and return to the LORD.
Isaiah 56: 10-11
“His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.”
Isaiah 56: 10-11
This prophecy addresses God’s discouraged people who have fallen short of obedience and righteousness. They see no reason to repent as long as things are going badly. In anticipation of what He will do, God shakes them out of it by calling them to do justice and righteousness.
It’s like saying, “LORD, I’ll start giving when You bless my finances.” No, begin giving now with the expectation that God will bless your financial obedience.
Ephesians 4:19
“Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.”
Ephesians 4:19 NIV
When it comes to greed, many people believe it is simply an act of selfishness. Greed, on the other hand, goes much deeper. Greed is an insatiable desire for more and an intense, almost uncontrollable craving for something.
A complete disregard frequently accompanies it for others. It can cause people to do things they would never do otherwise. We have all been tempted to do it at some point.
However, it is critical to resist the temptation. We should always try to be satisfied with and appreciate what we have. And we should never let greed take over our lives.
Deuteronomy 16:19
Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent
Deuteronomy 16:19
Bribery has no place in a just society. Those who accept bribes betray the trust of those who have given them power. We must avoid allowing greed to cloud our judgment or lead us astray. We must stand up for what is right, even if it is unpopular or difficult.
We must do what is best for the people rather than what is best for us. We must fight injustice, even if it means jeopardizing our safety.
This isn’t a battle we can afford to lose. We must be courageous and resist those who would abuse their power. We must all work together to end corruption and make our world a better place for everyone.
Isaiah 33:15
Those who walk righteously
and speak what is right,
who reject gain from extortion
and keep their hands from accepting bribes,
who stop their ears against plots of murder
and shut their eyes against contemplating evil—Isaiah 33:15
Greed breeds corruption, resulting in deception, eventually leading to manipulation. It ultimately leads to exploitation, and it leads to all kinds of nasty things.
And those who walk righteously and speak the truth, who reject extortion gain and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who close their ears to murder plots and close their eyes to contemplate evil, are the ones who will ultimately triumph over greed.
Isaiah 33:16
they are the ones who will dwell on the heights,
whose refuge will be the mountain fortress.
Their bread will be supplied,
and water will not fail them.Isaiah 33:16
Greed can cause us to lose sight of what is truly important in life. We can become obsessed with material things and lose sight of others’ needs.
Greed is a complex emotion, and it is, however, a very human emotion. We all have a little greed in us, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It is what motivates us to achieve our goals in life, and it is what drives us to work hard and achieve our goals.
But we must be cautious not to let greed get the better. We must be aware of the dangers of greed and ensure that it does not control our lives.
Proverbs 20:21
An inheritance claimed too soon
will not be blessed in the end.Proverbs 20:21
One of the most severe problems with greed is that it can lead to bad decisions. For example, someone may inherit money and then spend it all without regard for the future. This can lead to financial problems in the future, especially if the individual does not have a consistent source of income.
Finally, greed is a significant issue because it can have many negative consequences. It is critical to be aware of your greed and to avoid making rash decisions. Furthermore, it is essential to consider others and prioritize their interests over your own.
1 Corinthians 5:11
But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister[a] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
1 Corinthians 5:11
Some people claim to be members of our community but are sexually immoral or greedy, idolaters or slanderers, drunkards, or swindlers. And they have no faith in God!
Please avoid associating with them.
Take a breather and ask yourself, “Am I honest with myself?” If the answer is no, please consider withdrawing from them for the time being and asking God for guidance on how to do better in the future.
We all must continue growing spiritually to become more like Jesus Christ someday!
Ecclesiastes 5:10-16
Whoever loves money never has enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.Ecclesiastes 5:10-16
We’re all looking for more money. And we’ve all got bills to pay and expenses to cover. However, this verse also states that if you love money more than God, you will be unhappy no matter what you do.
You’ll be thinking about it all the time, daydreaming about it, worrying about it, and getting angry, and it won’t be worth it.
CONCLUSION
So, what should we do in its place? We should live a meaningful and purposeful life that brings us joy even in times of financial difficulty.
We can find this sense of purpose in God through prayer and praise. We don’t need as much money to feel fulfilled when we do this regularly.
