What can greed do to me?

Proverbs 21:26Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!

Isaiah 56:11Like greedy dogs, they are never satisfied. They are ignorant shepherds, all following their own path and intent on personal gain.

Greed can so consume us that we become blind to the needs of others. Greed is opposite to generosity and graciousness.

Exodus 20:17“You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”

Envy, or coveting, is a form of greed. It can overpower us, causing us to be obsessed with things we want but know we should not have. Greed is dangerous because, left unchecked, it can destroy our relationships and control our lives.

Mark 7:21-22“From within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.”

In this passage, Jesus lists greed among some of the most destructive sins.

2 Chronicles 10:15So the king paid no attention to the people. This turn of events was the will of God, for it fulfilled the Lord’s message to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh.

Proverbs 11:24Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.

Motivated to get more for himself, Rehoboam pressed his people to the breaking point and lost half his kingdom. The more obsessed we are with having more, the greater the odds we will wind up with less.