Greed is often disguised as ambition or the pursuit of success. God calls His people to recognize greed for what it truly is: a heart that is never satisfied. Learn how to cope with the temptation of greed with Christ.
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Approved and verified accurate by the Local Outreach Coordinator of the Department of Spiritual Life on May 30, 2025.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
In a society whose culture disguises greed as ambition or the drive for success, God’s people have grown blind to what greed truly is and how it affects their lives. It may seem that having goals is a good thing. However, the problem with goals is that they can easily become bigger and bigger and constantly whisper, “Enough is never enough.”
Greed is prominent throughout the Bible, indicating that it is a relevant issue humans will face on earth. An important case of greed in the Bible is Naboth’s vineyard in 1 Kings 21. King Ahab grew jealous of Naboth’s vineyard, and when Naboth refused to sell to the king, Ahab stoned him to death.
Ahab valued gaining material things over his relationship with Christ, and he faced divine judgment.
And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
— 1 Kings 21:16, ESV
There are many simple ways to remind yourself that being content with what you have will bring you peace. Here are three examples:
"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'”
— Hebrews 13:5, ESV
Every person has a different idea of what they would define as greed. The Oxford Dictionary defines greed as: “an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth or power.”1 This definition is influenced by family backgrounds or culture but more significantly by religion.2 From a biblical perspective, greed is one of the seven deadly sins, described many times in the Bible as a form of idolatry. For example, working excessively rather than prioritizing time with friends and family.
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God uses His word to remind us of the fragility of material things and the fleetingness of earthly possessions compared to what He offers us in heaven. An easy way to begin overcoming greed is to spend time with the Lord in prayer. Your prayer can look as simple as this:
“Heavenly Father, thank you for everything you have provided me with. I confess that I have been greedy and selfish in my actions. Help me to trust your plan for my life and train my heart to be content. Amen.”
God doesn’t desire to keep us from good things; He desires for us to receive the best thing: eternity with Him in heaven. Greed is an obstacle on our journey with God, but working through it strengthens our faith and inspires others.
Take a minute to evaluate your focus. Is it money, fame or status? Or is it honoring Christ in everything you do? Greed versus God; you can’t serve them both.
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
— 1 Timothy 6:6-8 ESV
