Definition and Nature:
Greed, often referred to as covetousness in biblical terms, is an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or possessions. It is considered a sin that stems from a lack of contentment and trust in God's provision. Greed is characterized by an insatiable longing for more, often at the expense of others and one's spiritual well-being.

Biblical References and Teachings:

1. Old Testament Insights:
· The Tenth Commandment explicitly warns against coveting: "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor" (Exodus 20:17). This commandment highlights the destructive nature of greed, which can lead to further sins and disrupt community harmony.
· Proverbs frequently addresses the dangers of greed, emphasizing wisdom and righteousness over material gain. Proverbs 15:27 states, "He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live" .

2. New Testament Teachings:
· Jesus warns against greed in the parable of the rich fool, where He says, "Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12:15). This teaching underscores the futility of amassing wealth without spiritual richness.
· The Apostle Paul identifies greed as idolatry in Colossians 3:5: "Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry" . Here, greed is equated with idol worship, as it places material desires above God.

3. Consequences of Greed:
· Greed leads to spiritual decay and separation from God. In 1 Timothy 6:9-10, Paul warns, "Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil" . This passage highlights the perilous path of greed, which can lead to moral and spiritual downfall.
· The account of Achan in Joshua 7 illustrates the communal consequences of greed. Achan's covetous act of taking forbidden spoils led to Israel's defeat and his own destruction, demonstrating how greed can bring calamity not only to the individual but also to the community.

4. Antidotes to Greed:
· Contentment and generosity are presented as virtues that counteract greed. Hebrews 13:5 advises, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you'" . Trust in God's provision is essential for overcoming greed.
· Acts of charity and selflessness are encouraged as means to cultivate a heart free from greed. In 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Paul instructs the wealthy to "do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share" , promoting a lifestyle that values eternal treasures over temporal wealth.

Historical and Theological Context:

Throughout church history, greed has been recognized as one of the seven deadly sins, reflecting its profound impact on the soul and society. Theological discussions often link greed to a lack of faith and a distorted view of God's sovereignty and goodness. The early church fathers, such as Augustine and Chrysostom, frequently admonished believers to pursue simplicity and charity, warning against the corrosive effects of avarice.

Practical Implications:

In contemporary Christian life, believers are called to examine their hearts for traces of greed and to cultivate a spirit of generosity and contentment. This involves a conscious effort to prioritize spiritual growth and community well-being over personal gain. By aligning one's desires with God's will, Christians can resist the temptations of greed and live in the freedom and abundance of God's grace.(n.) An eager desire or longing; greediness; as, a greed of gain.3525. nepho -- to be sober, to abstain from wine
... not drunk), not intoxicated; (figuratively) free from illusion, ie from the
intoxicating influences of sin (like the impact of selfish passion, greed, etc.). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3525.htm - 7k

1387. dolioo -- to deceive
... 1387 (from 1388 , "bait") -- properly, to lure, using to pull someone in; to deceive,
preying on people who are blinded by their own bitterness, greed or lust. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1387.htm - 6k

335. anaideia -- shamelessness
... Phonetic Spelling: (an-ah'-ee-die-ah') Short Definition: shamelessness, shameless
persistence Definition: shamelessness, shameless persistence (eg in greed). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/335.htm - 7k

4124. pleonexia -- advantage, covetousness
... Word Origin from pleonektes Definition advantage, covetousness NASB Word Usage
covetousness (1), deeds of coveting (1), greed (7), greediness (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4124.htm - 7k

724. harpage -- pillage, plundering
... plundering; plunder, spoil, robbery. Cognate: 724 -- to plunder (pillage),
fueled by " greed" (, 1, 25.24). See 726 (). Word Origin from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/724.htm - 6k

973b. bachel -- to get by greed
... bachel. 974 . to get by greed. Transliteration: bachel Short Definition: gained.
Word Origin a prim. root Definition to get by greed NASB Word Usage gained (1 ...
/hebrew/973b.htm - 5k

3284. yaanah -- perhaps greed
... 3283, 3284. yaanah. 3285 . perhaps greed. Transliteration: yaanah Phonetic
Spelling: (yah-an-aw') Short Definition: ostriches. Word Origin fem. ...
/hebrew/3284.htm - 6k

1942. havvah -- desire, chasm, destruction
... desire, chasm, destruction NASB Word Usage calamities (1), calamity (1), craving
(1), deadly (1), desire (2), destruction (8), destructive (1), greed (1). ...
/hebrew/1942.htm - 6k

Thou Shalt not Steal.
... not only against theft and robbery, but against all stinting in temporal goods which
men may practise toward one another: such as greed, usury, overcharging ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/luther/a treatise on good works/thou shalt not steal.htm

Whether Covetousness is the Greatest of Sins?
... Now covetousness is most opposed to charity: for Augustine says (QQ[83], qu.36)
that "greed is the bane of charity." Therefore covetousness is the greatest of ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether covetousness is the greatest.htm

The Last Supper.
... CHAPTER III. THE LAST SUPPER. O Judas, art thou blinded quite By untamed greed of
gold and gear? And would thou sell thy master dear For base gain? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/stead/king of the jews/chapter iii the last supper.htm

That Love not Only Makes Sons Out of Servants, but Also Bestows ...
... and not on his own efforts, it has been vouchsafed to acquire this state, from the
condition of a servant, wherein is fear, and from a mercenary greed of hope ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter ix that love not.htm

Whether Treachery, Fraud, Falsehood, Perjury, Restlessness ...
... in Deut.) enumerates nine daughters of covetousness; which are "lying, fraud, theft,
perjury, greed of filthy lucre, false witnessing, violence, inhumanity ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether treachery fraud falsehood perjury.htm

Whether Only the Sin of Pride and Envy Can Exist in an Angel?
... Reply to Objection 2: Avarice, considered as a special kind of sin, is the immoderate
greed of temporal possessions which serve the use of human life, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether only the sin of.htm

Christmas Day
... save ease, no ill save pain, No purpose, save its share in that wild war In which,
through countless ages, living things Compete in internecine greed."Ah God ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/christmas day.htm

On Eating.
... In their greed and solicitude, the gluttons seem absolutely to sweep the
world with a drag-net to gratify their luxurious tastes. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clement/the instructor paedagogus/chap i on eating.htm

A Community Rests Upon Justice and Good-Will. ...
... possession for all. Nature, therefore, has produced a common right for all,
but greed has made it a right for a few. Here, too, we ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xxviii a community rests.htm

The Cleansing of the Temple - the Sign,' which is not a Sign.
... qualified and appointed. Disputes might here arise, due to the ignorance
of the purchaser, or the greed of the examiner. A regularly ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v the cleansing of.htm

Greed (19 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) An eager desire or longing; greediness; as, a greed
of gain. Multi-Version Concordance Greed (19 Occurrences). ...
/g/greed.htm - 12k

Greedy (24 Occurrences)
... with any one bearing the name of "brother," if he was addicted to fornication or
avarice or idol-worship or abusive language or hard-drinking or greed of gain. ...
/g/greedy.htm - 13k

Addicted (9 Occurrences)
... with any one bearing the name of "brother," if he was addicted to fornication or
avarice or idol-worship or abusive language or hard-drinking or greed of gain. ...
/a/addicted.htm - 9k

Abusive (7 Occurrences)
... with any one bearing the name of "brother," if he was addicted to fornication or
avarice or idol-worship or abusive language or hard-drinking or greed of gain. ...
/a/abusive.htm - 9k

Avarice (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) An excessive desire of gain; greed; covetousness;
cupidity. 2. (n.) An inordinate desire for some supposed good. ...
/a/avarice.htm - 7k

Laban (52 Occurrences)
... his mental inventory of the gifts bestowed by the visitor upon his sister (24:30),
has usually, and justly, been regarded as a proof of the same greed that is ...
/l/laban.htm - 28k

Iscariot (11 Occurrences)
... Appointed keeper of the purse, he disregarded the warnings of Jesus concerning greed
and hypocrisy (compare Matthew 6:20 Luke 12:1-3) and appropriated the ...
/i/iscariot.htm - 25k

Gain (142 Occurrences)
... with any one bearing the name of "brother," if he was addicted to fornication or
avarice or idol-worship or abusive language or hard-drinking or greed of gain. ...
/g/gain.htm - 39k

Greedily (7 Occurrences)

/g/greedily.htm - 8k

Judas (42 Occurrences)
... Appointed keeper of the purse, he disregarded the warnings of Jesus concerning greed
and hypocrisy (compare Matthew 6:20 Luke 12:1-3) and appropriated the ...
/j/judas.htm - 45k

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Greed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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