53+ Bible Verses About Greed and Selfishness

Greed and selfishness are traits that have been cautioned against throughout both history and scripture. As humans, it's easy to fall into the trap of desiring more than we need, often at the expense of others. Through the guidance of 56 Bible verses and 7 insightful Christian quotes, this collection aims to offer a reflective look at why these behaviors are discouraged in the Christian faith.

Each verse and quote has been carefully selected to emphasize the importance of generosity and humility. Continue reading to gain a comprehensive understanding of how scripture addresses these potent topics. This article serves as a reminder of the spiritual dangers of greed and the virtues of living a life centered around the principles of giving and selflessness.

The Root of Greed

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
- 1 Timothy 6:10, NKJV

"He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity."
- Ecclesiastes 5:10, NKJV

"Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."
- Matthew 6:21, NKJV

"But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition."
- 1 Timothy 6:9, NKJV

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
- Matthew 6:24, NKJV

"Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!"
- Proverbs 23:4, NKJV

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"
- Mark 8:36, NKJV

The Consequences of Greed

"But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction."
- 1 Timothy 6:9, NKJV

"An arrogant man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will prosper."
- Proverbs 28:25, NKJV

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.'"
- Matthew 19:23, NKJV

"Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness and his chambers by injustice, who uses his neighbor's service without wages and gives him nothing for his work;"
- Jeremiah 22:13, NKJV

"He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live."
- Proverbs 15:27, NKJV

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?"
- Matthew 6:25, NKJV

"There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty."
- Proverbs 11:24, NKJV

The Illusion of Wealth

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;"
- Matthew 6:19, NKJV

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
- Matthew 16:26, NKJV

"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;"
- 1 Timothy 6:17, NKJV

"Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right."

- Proverbs 16:8, NKJV

"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.'"

- Hebrews 13:5, NKJV

"He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf."

- Proverbs 11:28, NKJV

"Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom."

- Proverbs 23:4, NKJV

Generosity as an Antidote to Greed

"Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
 - Luke 6:38, NKJV

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."
- 2 Corinthians 9:6, NKJV

"Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."
 - 2 Corinthians 9:7, NKJV

"Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor."

 - Proverbs 22:9, NKJV

"He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor."
- Proverbs 22:9, NKJV

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it."
- Proverbs 3:27, NKJV

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys."
- Luke 12:33, NKJV

Contentment in Simplicity

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
- 1 Timothy 6:6-7, NKJV

"And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content."
- 1 Timothy 6:8, NKJV

"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, NKJV

"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"
- Hebrews 13:5, NKJV

"Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble."
- Proverbs 15:16, NKJV

"A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked."
- Psalms 37:16, NKJV

"The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep."
- Ecclesiastes 5:12, NKJV

The Power of Giving

"It is more blessed to give than to receive."
- Acts 20:35, NKJV

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
- 2 Corinthians 9:7, NKJV

"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed."
- Proverbs 19:17, NKJV

"Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back."
- Luke 6:30, NKJV

"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,"
- Matthew 6:3, NKJV

"And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."
- Isaiah 58:10, NKJV

"He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor."
- Proverbs 22:9, NKJV

Spiritual Wealth Over Material Wealth

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
- Matthew 6:19-20, NKJV

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?"
- Mark 8:36, NKJV

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
- Matthew 6:33, NKJV

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
- Luke 12:34, NKJV

"Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death."
- Proverbs 11:4, NKJV

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."
- 1 Timothy 6:17, NKJV

"Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked."
- Psalms 37:16, NKJV

Rejecting Greed for Community Well-being

"Let no one seek his own good, but the good of others."
- 1 Corinthians 10:24, NKJV

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
- Galatians 6:2, NKJV

"Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."
- Philippians 2:4, NKJV

"Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be heard."
- Proverbs 21:13, NKJV

"Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
- Romans 12:13, NKJV

"How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!"
- Psalms 133:1, NKJV

"He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."
- Proverbs 14:31, NKJV

Christian Quotes on Greed and Generosity

"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."
- Seneca

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."
- John Wesley

"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed."
- Maya Angelou

"Greed makes a man blind and foolish, and makes him an easy prey for death."
- Rumi

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed."
- Mahatma Gandhi

"The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed."
- Franklin D. Roosevelt

"No one has ever become poor by giving."
- Anne Frank

Conclusion

Greed and selfishness detract from the true richness of a Christian life founded on generosity, community, and spiritual fulfillment. Embracing these virtues not only enriches our own lives but also strengthens the bonds within our communities. As we reflect on the teachings and wisdom provided, let us strive to cultivate a heart free from greed.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
- Matthew 6:21, NKJV

"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."
- Matthew 6:20, NKJV

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."
- Proverbs 11:25, NKJV