Fighting covetousness

Covetousness is a deadly, dangerous sin. It is rampant, respectable, and results in many other sins. It deceives, debases and destroys. Here are some key verses in God's Word to help us fight covetousness in our lives.

"“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”" (Exodus 20:17, ESV)

"In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress; the hand of everyone in misery will come against him." (Job 20:22, ESV)

"“If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much," (Job 31:24-25, ESV)

"this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above." (Job 31:28, ESV)

"Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them." (Psalm 62:10, ESV)

"Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!" (Psalm 119:36, ESV)

"One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want." (Proverbs 11:24, ESV)

"“Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm!" (Habakkuk 2:9, ESV)

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation." (Habakkuk 3:17-18, ESV)

"When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." (Matthew 19:22, ESV)

"For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery," (Mark 7:21, ESV)

"And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”" (Mark 10:23, ESV)

"And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature." (Luke 8:14, ESV)

"And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”" (Luke 12:15, ESV)

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, ESV)

"This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away." (1 Corinthians 7:29-31, ESV)

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need." (Philippians 4:11-12, ESV)

"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5, ESV)

"But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness." (1 Timothy 6:9-11, ESV)

"For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia." (2 Timothy 4:10, ESV)

"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, ESV)

"They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!" (2 Peter 2:14, ESV)