Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  8000 The life of the believer  »  8700 Threats to the life of faith  »  8778 materialism  »  8780 materialism, as an aspect of sin

The pursuit of possessions and wealth and a preoccupation with physical things is futile and dissatisfying.

Materialism as the result of human sin

At the fall

Genesis 3:6

Among pagans

Romans 1:22-23 See also Psalm 115:2-8; Isaiah 44:9-11; Daniel 3:1,4-7; Habakkuk 2:18; Acts 17:16; 2 Timothy 3:2

Within Israel itself

Exodus 20:4-5 See also Exodus 32:4; Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 4:15-19; Deuteronomy 7:25; 1 Kings 11:1-6; Psalm 106:19-20; Isaiah 42:8; Jeremiah 2:11-13; 1 Corinthians 10:14

Materialism and possessions

Possessions are to be seen as a gift from God

1 Chronicles 29:12 See also Genesis 13:2; Genesis 26:12-13; Deuteronomy 8:18; 2 Chronicles 32:29; Psalm 112:1-3; Proverbs 10:22; Ecclesiastes 5:19; Hosea 2:8

Material goods can turn the heart away from God

Deuteronomy 8:13-14; 1 Timothy 6:9-10 See also Job 31:24-28; Ezekiel 28:5; Matthew 19:21-22 pp Luke 18:22-23; Matthew 26:14-16; 1 John 3:17

Possessions and riches can make it difficult to enter the kingdom

Matthew 19:23-24 pp Mark 10:24-25 pp Luke 18:24-25 See also Matthew 13:22 pp Mark 4:18-19 pp Luke 8:14; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; James 2:2-5; James 5:1-6

The weaknesses of materialism

It is transitory

Proverbs 27:24 See also Job 22:20; Psalm 49:10,17; Proverbs 22:1-2; Proverbs 23:5; Ecclesiastes 2:18,21,26; Jeremiah 17:11; Luke 12:20-21; 1 Timothy 6:7

It does not satisfy

Ecclesiastes 5:10 See also Ecclesiastes 4:8; Ecclesiastes 5:12; Haggai 1:5-6; Matthew 6:19

It can encourage greed

1 Kings 21:2-4 See also Exodus 20:17 pp Deuteronomy 5:21; Joshua 7:1,20-24; 1 Kings 10:23-27

It can lead to worldliness

Matthew 16:26 pp Mark 8:36-37 pp Luke 9:24-25 See also Jeremiah 17:11; Luke 16:15,25-26; James 1:9-11; Revelation 3:17

Jesus Christ's non-materialistic attitude

Matthew 8:20 pp Luke 9:58 See also Philippians 2:5-6

Warnings to believers to guard against materialism

Luke 12:15 See also Jeremiah 9:23-24; Matthew 6:25-32; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Hebrews 13:5; 1 John 2:15-17

Godly examples of a non-materialistic attitude

Genesis 13:8-9; Genesis 14:23; Acts 3:6; Acts 4:32-37; Philippians 4:11-12

See also

2339  Christ, example of
5399  luxury
5413  money, attitudes
5475  property
5810  complacency
5869  greed
6133  coveting
6139  deadness, spiritual
6178  hardness of heart
8206  Christlikeness
8768  idolatry
8827  selfishness