WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
FEBRUARY 08, 2025
TOPIC: GUARD AGAINST ALL KINDS OF GREED
BY T. O. BANSO
“Greedy people want everything and are never satisfied. But when nothing remains for them to grab, they will be nothing. Once they have everything, distress and despair will strike them down, and God will make them swallow his blazing anger” (Job 20:20-23 Contemporary English Version).
The Encyclopedia of the Bible defines greed as “(1) Eager, unrestrained, insatiate longing, esp. for wealth or gain; avarice, cupidity, covetousness; (2) immoderate or ravenous hunger, esp. for food or drink; (3) in a good sense: keen, avid desire for knowledge, holiness, etc.” Only the first two, which are negative, are relevant to the topic of this devotional.
Greed and covetousness are used in the Bible to convey the same idea. The Topical Encyclopedia says, “Greed, often referred to as covetousness in biblical terms, is an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or possessions.”
Greed or covetousness is a sin which you must not tolerate in your life. Greed can manifest in different forms. Someone may not be greedy for money but can be greedy for other things. You must avoid greed in any negative form.
Jesus says in Luke 12:15, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (New International Version). Note the phrase “all kinds of greed.” In other words, there is more than one kind of greed. Considering the definition earlier, for what do you have an eager, unrestrained, insatiate longing? Is it wealth, clothes, food, drink, cars, etc.? For what do you have immoderate or ravenous hunger? Jesus says you must “guard against all kinds of greed.” The New King James Version says, “Beware of covetousness.” As I said earlier, greed and covetousness are synonyms in the Bible.
In Colossians 3:5, the Bible describes covetousness as idolatry, and you must get rid of it along with other sins. “Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world” (Colossians 3:5b New Living Translation). Ephesians 5:3 says, “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints” (New King James Version). This shows that covetousness or greed is not a sin to be ignored. It is a serious sin for a Christian.
Guard against all kinds of greed; beware of covetousness. Don’t have an eager, unrestrained, insatiate longing, especially for wealth or gain. Beware of avarice, cupidity, or covetousness. Don’t tolerate immoderate or ravenous hunger, especially for food or drink. Avoid all kinds of greed.
The Contemporary English Version puts Luke 12:15 thus: “Then he said to the crowd, ‘Don’t be greedy! Owning a lot of things won’t make your life safe.’” Thinking that the more you have, the safer or happier you will be is self-delusion.
Job 20:20-23 says, “Greedy people want everything and are never satisfied. But when nothing remains for them to grab, they will be nothing. Once they have everything, distress and despair will strike them down, and God will make them swallow his blazing anger” (Contemporary English Version).
Beware of greed. Do you have an intense and selfish desire for something? Do you always want more and you are never grateful for what you have? Proverbs 30:15a says, “Greedy people know only two things: ‘Give me,’ and ‘Give me’” (Easy-to-Read Version). You need to repent if this scripture describes you.
Don’t be greedy for unjust gain. Greed takes away the life of those greedy for unjust gain. Proverbs 1:19b says, “Greed kills selfish people” (New Century Version). Greed cuts people’s lives short. Don’t be greedy. Proverbs 15:27 says, “The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live” (New International Version). Don’t bring ruin to your family because of greed. Proverbs 11:29a says whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind.
Achan’s greed ruined his life and the lives of his household. He brought ruin to his family when he coveted and stole what was reserved for destruction in Jericho. “Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. Joshua said, ‘Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.’ Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since” (Joshua 7:24-26 New International Version).
Also, because of greed, Judas committed suicide after betraying his master for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6). He couldn’t even spend the money, and his accomplices refused to collect it back from him when he returned it to them because he was remorseful after Jesus was condemned. He threw the money down in the temple and went to hang himself (Matthew 27:3-5). Guard against all kinds of greed.
Gehazi was a greedy assistant of the Prophet Elisha. He coveted the gift his master had refused to collect from Naaman who had been healed of leprosy through his ministry. He went after Naaman and lied to him that Elisha sent him because he had some visitors, two young men from the company of the prophet. Naaman gave him more than he asked for and when he returned lied to Elisha that he didn’t go anywhere.
2 Kings 5:26-27 says, “But Elisha said to him, ‘Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.’ Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow” (New International Version). Gehazi brought trouble – generational leprosy – upon his descendants because of his greed. The Bible warns servants of God not to be greedy for money (1 Timothy 3:3, 8; Titus 1:7). Don’t pursue dishonest gain. Guard against all kinds of greed.
The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it (Proverbs 10:22). Avoid dishonest or unjust gain. “Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, setting his nest on high to escape the clutches of ruin! You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life. The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it” (Habakkuk 2:9-11 New International Version). Don’t have anything to do with ill-gotten wealth. Proverbs 28:16a says he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life.
How to guard against all kinds of greed
1. Be grateful to God. To guard against all kinds of greed, be grateful to God. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 New International Version). Appreciate God for what you have. Thank Him. Focus on what you have, not what you lack. Nobody has everything, and you don’t need everything. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name” (Psalm 100:4 New International Version).
2. Be content with what you have. Don’t crave more, thinking it will make your life better. 1 Timothy 6:6 says godliness with contentment is great gain. “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 New King James Version).
3. Be generous. Be a giver. Don’t pile up material riches for yourself but be rich towards God (Luke 12:21). Give to God and fellow human beings, especially the poor and needy. “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty” (Proverbs 11:24 New International Version). Being generous will help you overcome greed. Proverbs 21:26 says, “Some people are greedy and never have enough. Good people are generous and have plenty” (Easy-to-Read Version).
Conclusion: Guard against all kinds of greed. Greed ruins people’s lives and families. It causes fighting (Proverbs 28:25a). It leads to poverty. Remember the consequences of greed in the lives of Achan and his family, Gehazi, and Judas. Beware of greed. “A greedy man is in a hurry for wealth; he doesn’t know that poverty will come to him” (Proverbs 28:22 Holman Christian Standard Bible). Guard against all kinds of greed.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: The spirit of greed will not possess me. I shall be grateful to God for what I have and be content and generous. Holy Spirit, help me to guard against all kinds of greed.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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