Materialism, as an aspect of sin

The pursuit of possessions and wealth and a preoccupation with physical things is futile and dissatisfying.

Materialism as the result of human sin

At the fall

Genesis 3:6

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.

Among pagans

Romans 1:22–23 See also Psalm 115:2–8; Isaiah 44:9–11; Daniel 3:1, Daniel 3:4–7; Habakkuk 2:18; Acts 17:16; 2 Timothy 3:2

Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Within Israel itself

Exodus 20:4–5 See also Exodus 32:4; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 4:15–19, Deuteronomy 7:25; 1 Kings 11:1–6; Psalm 106:19–20; Isaiah 42:8; Jeremiah 2:11–13; 1 Corinthians 10:14

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Materialism and possessions

Possessions are to be seen as a gift from God

1 Chronicles 29:12 See also Genesis 13:2, Genesis 26:12–13; Deuteronomy 8:18; 2 Chronicles 32:29; Psalm 112:1–3; Proverbs 10:22; Ecclesiastes 5:19; Hosea 2:8

Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler over all. In Your hands are power and might to exalt and give strength to all.

Material goods can turn the heart away from God

Deuteronomy 8:13–14; 1 Timothy 6:9–10 See also Job 31:24–28; Ezekiel 28:5; Matthew 19:21–22 parallel Luke 18:22–23; Matthew 26:14–16; 1 John 3:17

and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud, and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Possessions and riches can make it difficult to enter the kingdom

Matthew 19:23–24 parallels Mark 10:24–25, Luke 18:24–25 See also Matthew 13:22 parallels Mark 4:18–19, Luke 8:14; 1 Timothy 6:17–19; James 2:2–5, James 5:1–6

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

The weaknesses of materialism

It is transitory

Proverbs 27:24 See also Job 22:20; Psalm 49:10, Psalm 49:17; Proverbs 22:1–2, Proverbs 23:5; Ecclesiastes 2:18, Ecclesiastes 2:21, Ecclesiastes 2:26; Jeremiah 17:11; Luke 12:20–21; 1 Timothy 6:7

for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.

It does not satisfy

Ecclesiastes 5:10 See also Ecclesiastes 4:8, Ecclesiastes 5:12; Haggai 1:5–6; Matthew 6:19

He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.

It can encourage greed

1 Kings 21:2–4 See also Exodus 20:17 parallel Deuteronomy 5:21; Joshua 7:1, Joshua 7:20–24; 1 Kings 10:23–27

So Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to use as a vegetable garden, since it is next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place — or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.” But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” So Ahab went to his palace, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat.

It can lead to worldliness

Matthew 16:26 parallels Mark 8:36–37, Luke 9:24–25 See also Jeremiah 17:11; Luke 16:15, Luke 16:25–26; James 1:9–11; Revelation 3:17

What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Jesus Christ's non-materialistic attitude

Matthew 8:20 parallel Luke 9:58 See also Philippians 2:5–6

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

Warnings to believers to guard against materialism

Luke 12:15 See also Jeremiah 9:23–24; Matthew 6:25–32; 1 Timothy 6:17–19; Hebrews 13:5; 1 John 2:15–17

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.”

Godly examples of a non-materialistic attitude

Genesis 13:8–9, Genesis 14:23; Acts 3:6, Acts 4:32–37; Philippians 4:11–12