What other scriptures emphasize the dangers of greed and selfish ambition? The Sharp Warning in Acts 8:20 “Peter answered, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!’” Peter’s rebuke to Simon the Magician is a vivid reminder that the things of God cannot be purchased, manipulated, or controlled by human greed. Scripture consistently echoes this truth. Greed Corrodes the Heart • Luke 12:15 – “Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” • 1 Timothy 6:9-10 – “Those who want to be rich fall into temptation… For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” • Hebrews 13:5 – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.” • Proverbs 15:27 – “Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household.” • Proverbs 28:25 – “A greedy man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.” • Ecclesiastes 5:10 – “He who loves money is never satisfied with money.” Selfish Ambition Breeds Disorder • James 3:14-16 – “If you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition… there will be disorder and every evil practice.” • James 4:1-3 – “You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel… You ask with wrong motives, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” • Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.” • Galatians 5:20-21 – Selfish ambition is listed among “the works of the flesh,” which “those who practice … will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Stories That Illustrate the Danger • The Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21) – A bumper crop, a bigger barn, then sudden judgment: “So is he who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” • Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) – Greedy deception about a land sale ends in immediate death. • Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20-27) – Chasing Naaman’s silver brings lifelong leprosy. Contentment: God’s Antidote • 1 Timothy 6:6 – “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” • Psalm 37:16 – “Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.” • Matthew 6:33 – “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” • Colossians 3:5 – “Put to death… greed, which is idolatry.” Living the Better Way • Acts 20:35 – “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” • 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 – “God loves a cheerful giver… you will abound in every good work.” • Proverbs 11:25 – “A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” • Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you… what is good: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” The unified message: greed and selfish ambition poison the soul, fracture relationships, and invite God’s judgment, while generosity, humility, and contentment open the way to true, lasting blessing. |
    |