Money is a very powerful thing. It gives us the power to live and do things that we wouldn’t usually be able to do. But sometimes money can be used for greed with or without our consent or knowledge.
This can lead to some horrible things happening in our lives and others around us. This article will explore several Bible verses about money, greed, and its effects on ourselves and others.
Bible verses about money and greed
There is a lot of talk about money in the Bible. In fact, most of it is metaphorical. I think a better way to understand this topic is to look at what Paul says in Romans 13:8-10 and 4:5-8. It turns out that only a minority of verses pertaining to money and greed appear in Scripture, but they certainly address some issues that are worth considering.
Proverbs 15:27 – Being greedy for gain can eventually cause problems.
Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.
Proverbs 15:27 (ESV)
Many people who are greedy for wealth use the justification that they do it for their families as a defense. This is unwise since being greedy for gain can eventually cause problems in one’s home.
In contrast to the person who is greedy for riches, the person who despises bribes is depicted. A person that is avaricious will do anything to get more money, and they like being bought off with bribes. Men and women of integrity who despise bribery and other unethical business practices are blessed by God.
Matthew 6:24 – God and wealth cannot both be served at the same time.
“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.
Matthew 6:24 (ESV)
God and wealth cannot both be served at the same time. By relying on money as our source of supply, we either continue to be slaves to monetary corruption, or we are set free into the beautiful liberty of God’s children.
When God is given the proper place, wealth can be used for good, but we must constantly be on guard lest the love of money starts to permeate our thoughts and hearts. The love of money will eventually become our master and obliterate our Christian walk.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 – Material well leads to no satisfaction.
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 (ESV)
Solomon was the first person to understand that accumulating wealth did not satisfy one. He was aware that this is equally vain. The void left behind is, if anything, worse than the addiction money provides. Man needs higher food than this since he has eternity in his heart.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith, is the only thing that could satisfy us.
Proverbs 11:24 – God would provide us less when we are greedy and ungrateful with what He has given us.
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
Proverbs 11:24 (ESV)
When we willingly give to God and His cause, we never lose. Suffering want is the result of being overly frugal and possessive. We should anticipate that God would provide us less when we are greedy and ungrateful with what He has given us, which will finally result in poverty.
We are called to be generous to God and to others around us. For all wealth come from him and him alone
1 John 2:16 – We have everything we need for life and godliness.
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
1 John 2:16 (ESV)
John cautions us about the myriad influences of the outside world as well as our own corrupted nature. We have everything we need for life and godliness because we are not part of this world’s system. For God’s glory and our ultimate good, let us live as unto the Lord in speech, deed, motive, and thought.
Luke 12:15 – Our lives are not defined by wealth.
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.”
Luke 12:15 (ESV)
If we behave covetously and gain a lot in this life, we will lose a lot in the next. Therefore, it is crucial to protect our lives and to guard against any form of covetousness because our lives are not defined by the wealth of our goods but rather by the treasure we have accumulated in heaven.
1 Timothy 6:9 – The yearning for wealth is unending.
But 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.
1 Timothy 6:9 (ESV)
Significantly, the desire for wealth is much more perilous than the wealth itself. Not only do the rich desire to become even wealthier but so do the poor.
This yearning for wealth tempts our hearts away from eternal wealth and traps us in a trap from which few can escape—constantly dreaming about wealth and focusing one’s attention on it.
Ultimately, only Jesus Christ and spiritual rather than temporal riches can satiate the longing to be wealthy. Everything else is inadequate.
Hebrews 13:5 – Contentment has more to do with a man’s character than his possessions.
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.
Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)
Financial stability or the acquisition of items we want to own does not lead to contentment. It cannot be found in places of authority or acquired through academic institutions. Contentment has more to do with a man’s character than his possessions.
This chapter highlights the desire for money as a major barrier to inner contentment, despite the fact that money can be a wonderful servant of man and can accomplish much good.
May we endeavor to be satisfied in all things and cultivate a character that is free from the love of money, knowing that He Himself has promised to be with us in all the shifting circumstances of our lives.
May we maintain the Lord Jesus in the center of our lives, where He belongs, for when He is the center of our attention, everything else falls into place.
1 Timothy 6:10 – God assures us that he will provide for us.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV)
Although there are good and bad uses for money, this verse is speaking of the love for money. What is being discussed here is the great desire to acquire more money and broaden one’s material prosperity.
Similar to how the secular song stated frequently implies “the love of money is the root of all evil”, the love of money is not the sole cause of evil; rather, it is one of many sinful methods that tempts us to do numerous sins and acts of wickedness.
As God’s children, we have His assurance that He will provide all of our needs in accordance with the riches of His grace and His goodness. May we be wise with our resources. May we treat it as a tool and not let it rule us.
Proverbs 28:25 – Selfishness.
A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched
Proverbs 28:25 (ESV)
The insatiable appetite of the greedy person causes him to cross social boundaries, which puts him at odds with others. Not satisfied with his share, he disrupts and destroys, inflicting harm on the people and property of others, who respond by taking legal action.
The people who have faith in the Lord are contrasted with others who have selfish hearts. Because they humbly trust God and lay aside pride, he will benefit and prosper.
Bible verses on wealth and greed
In this section, we’re going to look at Bible verses on wealth and greed, including how wealth can be used and misused. In the midst of all these worldly temptations, we’ve fallen into the trap of wanting an abundance of money and other earthly possessions. However, we must remember that God tells us that He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness (1 Timothy 6:8).
James 5:1-6
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded…
James 5:1-6 (ESV)
The lines in this passage are a harsh warning of impending retribution rather than a call to repentance.
James is making a strong case that money is transient and that judgment and eternity are to come. therefore, to forgo following God in favor of obtaining wealth. Although the Bible exhorts us to take care of our families and our personal needs, it also forbids us from hoarding our money and things when they could be used to further the Lord’s mission or to assist others.
Wealth is a valuable instrument only if we are cautious to use it as stewards for the Lord. But if we approach it from a worldly perspective, it becomes a perilous trap. I urge you to regularly evaluate how well you are managing the wealth that God has given you. Keep in mind Paul’s words, “It is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy” (1 Cor. 4:2).
James 4:3
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
James 4:3 (ESV)
Since Christians do not turn to God for their needs, they have these destructive wants (you do not ask). In this passage, James reminds us of the tremendous power of prayer and also calls us out for the problem of selfish prayer. When these people did ask, it was always for their own benefit.
We must keep in mind that the goal of prayer is not to persuade God to comply with our requests. In collaboration with Him, we pray to ask God to carry out His plan on earth by bringing our will into alignment with His.
Proverbs 13:11
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
Proverbs 13:11 (ESV)
God does not bless wealth acquired dishonestly or wealth that was not acquired via the kinds of lifestyle choices that produce and preserve prosperity.
With God’s favor on honest work and the adoption of practices that typically generate, preserve, and enhance riches, those who gather through labor will experience an increase.
Psalm 10:3
For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord.
Psalm 10:3 (ESV)
a man who declares himself to be superior to others and who, as a result, views others with scorn or disdain. He boasts about his own money or makes an excessive display of whatever he takes delight in. He takes great pride in his own sins, which are a source of shame, and especially in the fulfillment of his wishes.
This text exhorts us to boast exclusively in the Lord, our God, and not in our riches, desires, or abilities since all of these things are gifts from him.
Jeremiah 6:13
“For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.
Jeremiah 6:13 (ESV)
God observed the society of the Kingdom of Judah and was appalled by how totally corrupt and greedy it was. The prophet and the priest were complicit in the corruption and avarice, possibly much more so.
Along with the more overt crimes of greed and avarice, which are more visible, God also punished preachers who used deceptive language to reassure and pacify audiences when they should have been concerned and stirred to repentance.
Mark 8:36
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
Mark 8:36 (ESV)
We might gain the whole world and end up losing it all if we don’t go down death row with Jesus. Jesus had the chance to gain the whole world by worshiping the devil, but He chose obedience and achieved a triumph.
Living a life wholly devoted to Jesus and putting the needs of others before our own does not detract from our own life; on the contrary, it enriches it.
Bible verses talk about money
Money is a complicated subject to discuss. Although most people consider money to be a part of their everyday lives, there are many opinions on why money should or shouldn’t be used. Money can make life easier, but it also can cause difficult situations if not handled in the right way. The Bible talks about money.
Hebrews 13:5
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)
Paul also cautions against the love of money, saying that it is the foundation of all kinds of ills and that some Christians have become so consumed with it that they have strayed from their religion.
A vital factor in obtaining this divine goal is inner contentment. Hearts that seek the Lord learn to be content in all circumstances, and the person who is content is not troubled by greed or envy.
Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Proverbs 22:7 (NIV)
Too frequently, the wealthy impose harsh rules on the underclass. In fact, we are rarely capable of exercising authority over our fellow humans if we refuse to submit to God’s reign over ourselves.
The position of those who borrow money is lower than that of those who lend it. This verse tells us that the sensible person will use every effort to follow the road of godly prosperity and to be a lender rather than a borrower.
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money.
Matthew 6:24 (NIV)
When God is given the proper place, wealth can be utilized for good, but we must constantly be on guard should the love of money start to permeate our thoughts and hearts. The love of money will eventually become our master and obliterate our Christian walk.
Proverbs 13:11
Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
Proverbs 13:11 (NIV)
God does not bless wealth acquired dishonestly or wealth that was not acquired via the kinds of lifestyle choices that produce and preserve prosperity.
With God’s favor on honest work and the adoption of practices that typically generate, preserve, and enhance riches, those who gather through labor will experience an increase.
Ecclesiastes 5:10
Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NIV)
Solomon was the first person to understand that accumulating wealth did not satisfy him. He was aware that this is equally vain.
“The emptiness it leaves is worse than the addiction that money provides if anything. Man needs higher food than this since he has eternity in his heart.
