What does the Bible say about overcoming greed?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible says greed is a form of idolatry that enslaves the heart, while God calls His people to contentment, generosity, and trust in His provision. Jesus warns in Luke 12:13-21 that life does not consist in possessions and exposes the folly of storing earthly wealth without being rich toward God. Ecclesiastes 5:10 teaches that the love of money never satisfies, and Colossians 3:5 names covetousness as idolatry. Yet the gospel frees believers to receive God’s gifts with thanksgiving rather than grasping after them. Hebrews 13:5 urges contentment because God Himself will not forsake His people, while 1 Timothy 6:6-18 commends godliness, open-handed giving, and hope fixed on God rather than riches.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Luke 12:13-21 9 votes
One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.” He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly. He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’ He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
- Ecclesiastes 5:10 9 votes
He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.
- Luke 12:15 8 votes
He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”
- Luke 3:10-14 8 votes
The multitudes asked him, “What then must we do?” He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.” Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.”
- 1 Timothy 6:6 6 votes
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
- Colossians 3:5 6 votes
Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
- 1 Timothy 6:17 6 votes
Charge those who are rich in this present age that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;
- Hebrews 13:5 6 votes
Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”
- 1 Timothy 6:18 5 votes
that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share;
- Psalms 119:36-37 4 votes
Turn my heart toward your statutes, not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways.
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