Scripture warns against the dangers of allowing greed to control one's life, as it can lead to a never-ending pursuit of wealth and material possessions. In Luke 12:13-21, Jesus teaches about the foolishness of accumulating riches without regard for eternal things, and in Luke 12:15, He cautions that a person's life is not measured by their wealth. The book of Ecclesiastes also notes that those who love money will never be satisfied, as expressed in Ecclesiastes 5:10. Instead, the Bible encourages believers to use their resources wisely, as seen in Luke 3:10-14, and to trust in God's provision, as reminded in 1 Timothy 6:17.
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Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?” 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.” Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
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.”
He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.
The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered. 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.”
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.
Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
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.”
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,
Turn my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetous gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.