What Is the Sin of Greed?

The sin of greed is a lack of contentment. Scripture doesn’t specifically define greed and we often relegate greed as some abstract quality only the very rich are guilty of. The rest of us just “want” stuff and we would never be downright greedy. But perhaps, greed affects more of us than the rich. Maybe greed is simply not being content.
Here are five ways that greed, if not recognized and rejected, will destroy our life:

1. Greed Makes Us an Idolater:
Jesus is clear that we can’t have both God and greed(which is an idol) at the same time (Matthew 6:24). Paul says that believers are to “put to death…greed which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). The writer of Hebrews urges: “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” (13:5).

2. Greed Never Gets Enough:
The writer of Ecclesiastes observes that “whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied” (5:10). Indulging in greed is like constantly eating snack food, being drawn toward every vending machine we pass, finding ourselves in the chip aisle of every store, always craving but never really feeling satisfied. When we reject the idol of greed and instead turn towards God, we are freed to work enthusiastically and to enjoy the rewards of that hard work without being ruled by them. With this freedom our eyes are opened to realize the value of contentment over striving, affirming what Ecclesiastes advises: “Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind” (4:6).

3. Greed Has Dire Consequences:
As if the futility of greed was not enough reason to avoid it at all costs, the Bible also shares that there are ripple effects when greed corrupts a person’s life from the inside out. The Book of Proverbs warns that “the greedy stir up conflict” (Proverbs 28:25) and “bring ruin to their households” (Proverbs 15:27).

4. Greed Makes Generosity, and Its Blessings, Impossible:
The Bible is not against people making money. In fact, making money and the honest work associated with it, is encouraged. Paul says that “anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need” (Ephesians 4:28). Generosity towards others is the logical result of God’s generosity to us. “By this we know love,” John says, “that he lay down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16). But John does not stop with generalities; instead, he drills down into mundane decisions of how believers spend their money, relating that to the health of their relationship with God: “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” (1 John 3:17-18).

5. Greed Does Not Lead to Us Thriving:
Someone who is greedy has fundamentally misunderstood what life is all about. Jesus commands his followers in Luke 12:15: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” The Book of Proverbs warns that “those who trust in their riches will fall.” Those who prioritize God over greed, on the other hand, “will thrive like a green leaf” (Proverbs 11:28).

Erick Bouwmeester
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