42 Bible Verses to Help You Stay Away from Greed and Materialism

Did you know most of our worries come from unhealthy desire for money, power and worldly satisfaction? The Scriptures didn’t tell us to worry about what to wear or eat. Let’s learn some wisdom from Bible verses about greed and materialism now.

In today’s world, mankind has developed an insatiable taste for money, wealth and power. The love for worldly pleasure is sweeping over all places —including the church. Many have fallen into temptations for refusing to adhere to the Bible’s teaching on money and materialism. It’s a deadly trap and it’s time we go back to the scriptures and learn about Bible verses that talk about greed and materialism.

It’s unfortunate to see people calculate the value of someone by his beauty, money, or material possession. That’s the world’s measuring standard of “worth” or “value” —but in Christ —a humble soul that trusts and depends on God always is what matters.

Remember that nothing satisfies(gold, money, wealth, etc,) the soul of man —except Christ Jesus. Chasing what only gives pleasure to your mortal body is in contrast to what the Bible teaches.

May we, therefore, be reminded of the will of God and the purpose of our very existence, so that all true believers stay away from any kind of greed and the lust for material wealth.

Here I have compiled several Bible verses that talk about greedy life and materialism. I am hoping you would be reminded to be content with whatever you have at this moment —to wait patiently for the Lord’s blessing; because every good gift comes from above.

God’s Judgment Against Greedy Life

Bible example of God’s judgment and anger against greed is seen in the book of Amos. As a shepherd-farmer, he dealt with ruthless merchants and corrupt officials.

Amos was aware of the bad situation in Israel and so spoke against it. You may have to read Amos 1:1; 7:14-15. He condemned the greed and luxury of the wealthy men, for he knew that they had gained their wealth through cheating, oppression and injustice. Bible reference: Amos 2:6-7; 3:10,15; 5:10-12; 6:4-6; 8:4-6.

Bible Verses On Greedy Life

1. “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)

2. “Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet to a person, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.” (Proverbs 20:17)

3. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20)

4. “Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.” (Ecclesiastes 5:15)

5. “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” (Ephesians 5:3)

6. “Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.” (Psalm 119:36)

7. “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5)

8. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10)

9. “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)

10. “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. (Proverbs 23:4)

11. “All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.” (Proverbs 21:26)

12. “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” (Proverbs 13:11)

Bible Verses About Materialism

There are beautiful and enjoyable things in this world indeed, but if Christians fail to distinguish themselves from people of this world by what the Bible says about material wealth —it might not end well for any found guilty of this.

Here are some helpful verses on materialism. May you be content in the world and never feel ashamed, disappointed, or useless because Jesus Christ is your portion. He is all that you need. In heaven, He has a better reward for your faithfulness and endurance.

13. “As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?” (Ecclesiastes 5:11)

14. “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” (1 John 3:17)

15. “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!” (Proverbs 16:16)

16. “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36)

17. “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (1 Timothy 6:9)

18. “Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:10)

19. “The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.” (Proverbs 18:11)

20. “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)

21. “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” (Proverbs 23:5)

22. “And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 4:4)

23. “A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.” (Proverbs 13:8)

24. “I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” (Lamentations 3:24)

25. “Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)

26. “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)

27. “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” (Acts 4:32)

28. “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6)

29. “All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.” (Proverbs 21:26)

30. “Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” (Proverbs 11:4)

31. “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.” (Proverbs 30:8)

32. “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

33. “I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” (1 Timothy 2:9-10)

34. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

35. “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. (Colossians 3:5)

36. “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.” (1 Timothy 6:17)

37. “Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.” (Ecclesiastes 5:15)

38. “Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.” (Proverbs 15:16)

39. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

40. “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)

41. “But worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing.” (Mark 4:19)

Hello beautiful soul, may these Bible verses on greed and materialism inspire you to stay away from any earthly desire that draws you away from God.