Greed, believers' response to

Greed should have no place in the lives of God's people.

The righteous are not to be greedy

Proverbs 28:6 See also Exodus 20:17 parallel Deuteronomy 5:21; Proverbs 11:28, Proverbs 22:1, Proverbs 23:4; Ezekiel 18:8, Ezekiel 18:17; Romans 13:9

Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse.

The Christian leader is not to be greedy

1 Timothy 3:2–3 See also Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 5:2

An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.

The example of Paul

Acts 20:33 See also 1 Thessalonians 2:5

I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.

The antidotes to greed

Greed must be repented of

Luke 3:14 John the Baptist counselling soldiers on how they must express their repentance.

Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”

The need to be on guard against greed

Psalm 62:10; Luke 12:15 See also Luke 12:16–21

Place no trust in extortion or false hope in stolen goods. If your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.

And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

The need to be separate from greed and from the greedy

1 Corinthians 5:11; Colossians 3:5 See also Job 36:18; Ephesians 5:3

But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.

The need to be content

Hebrews 13:5 See also Philippians 4:11–13; 1 Timothy 6:3–10

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

The need to seek God, not gain

1 Timothy 6:17–18 See also 1 Kings 3:11–14; Psalm 119:14; Jeremiah 9:23–24

Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,