Covetousness and Greed

Covetousness is an intense desire to possess what belongs to another person or an insatiable craving for more. Scripture identifies it as idolatry because it places material desire above God.

Exodus 20:17 commands, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's." Jesus warned in Luke 12:15, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." First Timothy 6:10 declares, "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." Colossians 3:5 identifies covetousness as idolatry. Hebrews 13:5 instructs, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have."

Covetousness is a sin of the heart that drives discontent and dissatisfaction no matter how much a person possesses. Scripture calls believers to contentment, recognizing that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. Generosity and gratitude are the biblical antidotes to greed.