“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
Bible Verses About Greed And Materialism
Proverbs 28:25 – A greedy heart leads to strife and conflict.
“A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.” – Proverbs 28:25
Matthew 6:24 – You cannot serve both God and wealth.
“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
Luke 12:15 – Beware of all covetousness.
“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
1 John 2:15-17 – The love of the world and its desires is contrary to God.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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 2:15-17
Ecclesiastes 5:10 – The futility of chasing after wealth.
“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
James 5:1-3 – Warning to the rich about their hoarded wealth.
“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, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire.” – James 5:1-3
Proverbs 23:4-5 – Don’t wear yourself out to gain wealth.
“Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.” – Proverbs 23:4-5
Matthew 19:24 – The difficulty for the rich to enter heaven.
“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” – Matthew 19:24
Hebrews 13:5 – Be content with what you have.
“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
Proverbs 11:28 – The pitfall of placing trust in riches.
“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.” – Proverbs 11:28
1 Timothy 6:17 – Command the rich to not be haughty.
“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” – 1 Timothy 6:17
Proverbs 15:16-17 – Better a little with fear of God.
“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.” – Proverbs 15:16-17
Matthew 6:19-21 – Store up treasures in heaven.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” – Matthew 6:19-21
Luke 16:13 – Loyalty to one master.
“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.” – Luke 16:13
Micah 6:8 – What God requires of us.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8
Proverbs 30:8-9 – A request for moderation.
“Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me.” – Proverbs 30:8-9
Colossians 3:2 – Set your minds on things above.
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” – Colossians 3:2
James 1:11 – The fleeting nature of wealth.
“For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass, and its flower falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” – James 1:11
John 6:27 – Do not labor for the food that perishes.
“Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.” – John 6:27
Isaiah 55:2 – Why spend money on what is not bread?
“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” – Isaiah 55:2
Proverbs 21:6 – The futility of making haste to be rich.
“The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.” – Proverbs 21:6
Philippians 4:19 – God will supply every need.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19
Psalm 119:36 – Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain.
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!” – Psalm 119:36
Proverbs 15:16 – Little with fear of the Lord is better.
“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.” – Proverbs 15:16
Mark 8:36 – What does it profit a man to gain the whole world?
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” – Mark 8:36
Final Thoughts
Greed and materialism can create a barrier between us and God. Most of us may desire more than what we need, but this leads to unhappiness and spiritual emptiness. Through scripture, we understand the importance of contentment and the dangers of excessive desire for things. Whether it’s money or possessions, we learn that true wealth comes from a relationship with God. When we focus on spiritual treasures, we experience fulfillment that material things can’t provide. We’re reminded that our value is not tied to our possessions but to our faith and connection to Christ.
Let’s remember to guard our hearts against greed, maintaining a grateful attitude and focusing on serving others rather than accumulating wealth. If you’re interested in more topics about relationships and faith, check out this article about communication or explore some ways to succeed. We have many topics to encourage you on your journey of faith!