When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it. (Joshua 7:21, NKJV).
Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house, That he may set his nest on high, That he may be delivered from the power of disaster! You give shameful counsel to your house, Cutting off many peoples, And sin against your soul. (Habakkuk 2:9–10, NKJV)
Such is the fate of all who are greedy for gain. It ends up robbing them of life. (Proverbs 1:19, NLT)
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain; such [Greed for plunder] takes away the lives of its possessors. (Proverbs1:19, AMP)
Greedy
Now, greedy is wanting more than one needs or deserves, often for material things like wealth, power, or fame. This shows that greed is an excessive desire. Greed also refers to gluttony, which is having a strong desire for food and drinks, leading to overeating. Additionally, greed is being very eager for something, like praise or status. Thus, greed is eagerness. Therefore, greed is an excessive desire to have more; it is eagerness to receive more praise and better status. It also involves overeating.
Causes of Greed
A feeling of grudging admiration and desire to possess something that belongs to another can lead someone to devising devious ways to obtain those possessions. A deep–seated fear of not having enough can push one to excessive taking. A belief that you deserve more, often forgetting basic politeness or gratitude, can result in greed. Some ambition driven by the desire for more can be healthy, but an excessive, insatiable desire becomes destructive.
How Greed Manifests
Greediness can manifest in three ways: materially, emotionally, and behaviorally. It appears when there is hoarding wealth, demanding more, or taking what isn’t yours; this is greed manifesting through material possessions — materially. When a person constantly feels a sense of lack, leading to dissatisfaction and negative emotions, greed manifests through their feelings — emotionally. In terms of behaviour, greed drives someone to be the first to ask for help but the last to give, or to expect others to serve them. Recognising these characteristics in action indicates that greed is manifesting itself.
A Greedy Person
A greedy person can be described as someone with an excessive, often selfish, desire for more, which leads to behaviours that ignore fairness, ethics, or the needs of others in their relentless quest for accumulation.
A greedy person is someone who:
- Never feels satisfied with what they have; they always want more.
- Prioritizes personal gain and views others’ needs as secondary.
- Believes that if someone else gains, they lose out on their potential share.
- Uses charm or clever tactics to get what they want, even taking credit for others’ work, i.e., manipulation.
- Pursues immediate rewards without considering future impacts or fairness.
- Bends rules or offloads costs onto others to maximize their own benefits.
Characteristics of a Greedy Person in the Scriptures
In Psalms 10:2–10, the behaviour of greedy people is described:
- They are proud.
- They persecute the poor.
- They devise evil plots.
- They boast of their heart’s desires.
- They renounce the Lord.
- They do not seek God.
- God is not in any of their thoughts.
- Their ways are constantly prospering.
- God’s judgments are far above and out of their sight.
- They sneer at their enemies.
- They are confident that nothing can move them or bring adversity nearby.
- Their mouth is full of curses, deceit, and oppression.
- Trouble and iniquity are under their tongue.
- They sit lurking in the villages.
- They secretly murder the innocent.
- They fix their eyes covertly on the helpless.
- They have destructive secrets.
- They set traps to catch and destroy.
- They cause the helpless to fall before them.
- Now remember that blessing the greedy person is renouncing God — Psalm 3:10.
In Proverbs 1:10–19, the Bible shows that:
- The greedy person entices people to agree with him or her in the devious plan they are carrying out.
- He or she kills to gain (vs. 10).
- A greedy person is like a grave, swallowing people to take what is theirs (vs. 11–12).
- He or she is inclined to possess (vs. 13).
- He or she seeks cooperation to help them succeed (vs. 14).
- Their feet run to evil (vs. 16).
- They shed innocent blood (vs. 16).
- Like a fowler sets traps and catches birds without reason, so the greedy person does the same to people.
- He or she kills their kinsmen to gain what is theirs (vs.18).
- He or she uses others as guinea pigs.
- The end of a greedy person is death (vs.19).
- A greedy person does not work but takes credit for other people’s work, (Proverbs 21:25–26).
In Isaiah 56:10, a greedy watchman and prophet are compared to an old dog. Here, the watchmen and prophets generally refer to Christian leaders. Christian leaders who are greedy are:
- They are blind.
- They are ignorant.
- They are dumb.
- They cannot speak.
- They love sleeping, i.e. love easy and free things. (vs.10)
- They never have enough.
- They don’t understand.
- They look to their own way, but not God’s way.
- They look to their own gain.
- They are kings of their own territories (desires). (vs.11)
- They are short-term focused (vs.12)
- They are hypocrites.
- Their public life differs from their private life (Luke 11:39).
- All things in their pursuit of greediness are clean to them (Luke 11:41; Proverbs 16:2,25).
- In Ephesians 4:17–19, we get a clear picture of the mind and heart of greedy people.
Greedy people:
- They walk in the futility of their mind (vs.17).
- Have their understanding of things, and God darkened (vs.18).
- They are alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance in them and the blindness of their hearts (vs.18).
- They are past feeling (vs.19).
- They have given themselves over to lewdness (vs.19).
- They work all uncleanness with greediness (vs.19).
- Leaders are warned against greed (1 Timothy 3:2–3, 8; Titus 1:7; Exodus 18:21). Greediness leads one away from faith and causes many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10).
In Jude 1:8–19, those who run through with greed are dreamers.
- They defile the flesh.
- They reject authority.
- They speak evil of dignitaries (vs.8).
- They speak evil of what they do not understand.
- They corrupt themselves naturally through what they know (vs.10).
- They murder.
- Everything they do is for their personal gain.
- They rebel against established authority (vs.11).
- They defile meeting driven by love.
- They do not help others. They are clouds without water.
- They are always unfruitful towards others. They are trees without fruit.
- They are living dead.
- They are completely destroyed (vs.12).
- They prepare their own shame.
- They are reserved for eternal destruction (vs.13).
- They are grumblers and complainers.
- They walk according to their own lusts.
- They flatter people with their great words to gain advantage (vs.16).
- They are mockers who walk in their own lusts (vs.18).
- They are sensual people who cause division.
- They are not led by the Spirit of God (vs. 19; Galatians 5:16–18, 25; Romans 8:9). Greedy gains trouble your own house, (Proverbs 15:27).
Covetousness
Covetousness is having or showing a strong desire to possess something that belongs to someone else. It involves craving for ownership.
In the Bible, covetousness refers to a intense desire for worldly things. (Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:5; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:9–10; Matthew 6:20).
What Bible Scriptures Say about Covetousness
- A greedy person is someone whose heart is inclined toward covetousness (Proverbs 119:36).
- God hates covetous individuals (Isaiah 57:17).
- Covetousness leads to backsliding in the heart (Isaiah 57:17).
- Covetousness involves dealing falsely (Jeremiah 6:13; Jeremiah 8:10).
- Covetousness results in shedding innocent blood, practicing oppression, and violence (Jeremiah 22:17).
- Covetousness comes from within a person and defiles them (Mark 7:20–23).
- We are warned against covetousness because life does not consist of the abundance of things one possesses (Luke 12:15).
- Covetousness arises from not retaining God in one’s knowledge (Romans 1:28–29).
- The Bible warns that a covetous believer must be avoided (1 Corinthians 5:11).
- Covetous people will not inherit the Kingdom of God (Ephesians 5:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9–20).
- As saints, we are warned against practising covetousness (Ephesians 5:3).
- Covetousness is idolatry and must be put to death (Colossians 3:5).
- A covetous person is an idolater (Ephesians 5:5).
- We are warned against engaging in covetous conduct (Hebrews 13:5).
- Covetousness leads to exploiting people with deceptive words (2 Peter 2:3).
- The heart can be trained to walk in greed and covetousness (2 Peter 2:14).
- When you train your heart to practice covetousness, you are cursed (2 Peter 2:14).
- Covetousness causes you to exploit others (2 Peter 2:3).
- God hates and detests covetousness (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:31).
- Covetousness leads to seizing fields and houses violently (Micah 2:2).
- Covetousness drives one to oppress a man, his house, and his inheritance (Micah 2:2).
Differences, Similarities, and Remedies for Covetousness and Greed.
The difference between covetousness and greed is that both describe intense desires for possessions, but covetousness focuses on wanting what belongs to others, while greed is a broader, unrestrained craving for more. i.e., craving for more wealth, power, or things regardless of ownership, often leading to self-accumulation. While covetousness targets people’s property, status, or success, greed centres on accumulating wealth, power, or anything in abundance, without regard for others or limits. Covetousness looks outward at what others have, whereas greed looks inward for personal accumulation or excess.
Covetousness and greed come from two different Latin words, “cupiditas” and “avaritia.” Now, “cupiditas” is the Latin word for covetousness; it is often seen as an internal longing for others’ goods, while “avaritia” is the Latin word for greed; it is the excessive grasping desire to have and hold. In the Bible, covetousness is often linked to idolatry — that is, worshipping possessions over God. Meanwhile, greed is warned against as a root of evil and a sign of a heart not content with God’s provision, leading to dissatisfaction. Here, we can state it this way: covetousness is an inordinate desire to possess something belonging to someone else, while greed is an intense, selfish, and unrestrained desire for more, especially wealth or food.
The similarities between covetousness and greed are that both involve a strong, often immoderate longing for possessions, wealth, or status. They stem from dissatisfaction with what one has. Both focus on earthly possessions rather than spiritual or ethical values. Greed is a general desire for more and more; covetousness is specific — you desire that a particular person or organization possesses something. That is why the Bible says that the “covetous man is an idolater,” and has no place in the Kingdom of God.
Now, in the Bible, both are considered serious sins, representing a turning away from God. Therefore, greed and covetousness are essentially the same, and their cure is also identical.
Cure for Greed and Covetousness
Repent
To cure greed and covetousness, first recognise that you are greedy and covetous. Then, go before the Lord in repentance. For 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” So, when you humble yourself, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from the wickedness you are doing, God hears you, forgives you, and heals you.
Also, 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When you confess your sins, God forgives and cleanses all unrighteousness. Thus, turn to God in repentance and confession of sins. Then, God will set you free from this prison of greed and covetousness.
Love
Romans 13:10 says, “Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.” Because greed and covetousness harm your neighbour. Once you have the love of God in you, you will not do harm to your neighbour. Therefore, greed and covetousness will not have a place in you.
Therefore, the cure you need to escape greed and covetousness is love. Love God and love your neighbour as yourself. (Matthew 22:37–40)
Be Contented
What is content? Content is being self-sufficient, adequate, or sufficient in oneself. It is feeling satisfied or happy. To be contented is to be pleased with your situation and not to desire more or anything else out of selfishness or personal gain.
Being content is a step you take by yourself to protect yourself from greed and covetousness (Hebrews 13:5–6).
Being content is a discipline you need to learn (Philippians 4:11–12). Therefore, learn it to avoid the trap and prison of greed and covetousness.
To be free from greed and covetousness in life:
- Learn to be content (Hebrews 13:5–6).
- Be content with your wages (Luke 3:14).
- Be content with food and clothing (1 Timothy 6:8).
- Be content with what you have (Hebrews 13:5).
Know that godliness combined with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6).
Humility
Don’t be proud and elevate others before yourself. When you are humble, if the seed of greed and covetousness starts germinating in you, it is easy for people to see it, tell it to you, and then you can repent and change. But pride will not allow you either to repent or to change. You will go your own way, which is the way of greed and covetousness.
Remember: “Greedy gains trouble your own house” (Proverbs 15:27). And “So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners” (Proverbs 1:19).
Greed and covetousness follow the ways of man, not God. But Proverbs 16:2 advises, “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits.” And verse 16 warns, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 16:25).
So greed and covetousness are ways that seem right to a man, but their end is the way of death. Greed and covetousness lead to death — both physical and eternal.
Thus, be warned: greed and covetousness are paths to death, and they kill anyone who holds onto them and indulges in them.
Contributor: By Gilbert Magomere Ayieko
