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 Ge 3:6

Among pagans Ro 1:22-23 See also Ps 115:2-8; Isa 44:9-11; Da 3:1,4-7; Hab 2:18; Ac 17:16; 2Ti 3:2

Within Israel itself Ex 20:4-5 See also Ex 32:4; Lev 26:1; Dt 4:15-19; Dt 7:25; 1Ki 11:1-6; Ps 106:19-20; Isa 42:8; Jer 2:11-13; 1Co 10:14

Materialism and possessions

Possessions are to be seen as a gift from God 1Ch 29:12 See also Ge 13:2; Ge 26:12-13; Dt 8:18; 2Ch 32:29; Ps 112:1-3; Pr 10:22; Ecc 5:19; Hos 2:8

Material goods can turn the heart away from God Dt 8:13-14; 1Ti 6:9-10 See also Job 31:24-28; Eze 28:5; Mt 19:21-22 pp Lk 18:22-23; Mt 26:14-16; 1Jn 3:17

Possessions and riches can make it difficult to enter the kingdom Mt 19:23-24 pp Mk 10:24-25 pp Lk 18:24-25 See also Mt 13:22 pp Mk 4:18-19 pp Lk 8:14; 1Ti 6:17-19; Jas 2:2-5; Jas 5:1-6

The weaknesses of materialism

It is transitory Pr 27:24 See also Job 22:20; Ps 49:10,17; Pr 22:1-2; Pr 23:5; Ecc 2:18,21,26; Jer 17:11; Lk 12:20-21; 1Ti 6:7

It does not satisfy Ecc 5:10 See also Ecc 4:8; Ecc 5:12; Hag 1:5-6; Mt 6:19

It can encourage greed 1Ki 21:2-4 See also Ex 20:17 pp Dt 5:21; Jos 7:1,20-24; 1Ki 10:23-27

It can lead to worldliness Mt 16:26 pp Mk 8:36-37 pp Lk 9:24-25 See also Jer 17:11; Lk 16:15,25-26; Jas 1:9-11; Rev 3:17

Jesus Christ’s non-materialistic attitude

Mt 8:20 pp Lk 9:58 See also Php 2:5-6

Warnings to believers to guard against materialism

Lk 12:15 See also Jer 9:23-24; Mt 6:25-32; 1Ti 6:17-19; Heb 13:5; 1Jn 2:15-17

Godly examples of a non-materialistic attitude

Ge 13:8-9; Ge 14:23; Ac 3:6; Ac 4:32-37; Php 4:11-12

See also