Hoarding material things is something the Bible warns against. Scripture encourages us to focus on storing treasures in heaven rather than accumulating wealth or possessions, reminding us that true security and satisfaction come from God, not material abundance.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Life Not Being Fair
What Does The Bible Say About Hoarding Material Things
Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
This verse reminds us of the transient nature of material possessions and the importance of prioritizing eternal treasures. It challenges us to focus on heavenly treasures, such as love, kindness, and serving others, rather than becoming consumed with accumulating earthly possessions.
Jesus emphasizes that our hearts should be fixed on things of eternal value because our true treasure reflects our priorities and the condition of our hearts.
1 Timothy 6:6-8
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
This verse teaches us the importance of contentment and the realization that material possessions have no eternal value. It encourages us to find satisfaction in godliness and to be content with the basic necessities of life.
As believers, we should focus on cultivating a heart of contentment and recognizing that worldly possessions are fleeting, but our relationship with God and our pursuit of godliness are of great significance.
Luke 12:15
“Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'”
In this verse, Jesus warns against the dangers of greed and materialism. He reminds us that true life is not measured by the amount of possessions we accumulate but by the quality of our relationships with God and others.
Jesus exhorts us to be vigilant and cautious, continually checking our hearts to ensure that we are seeking a life of true significance rather than being consumed by material desires.
Proverbs 21:20
“The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.”
This verse highlights the importance of wise and disciplined stewardship of resources. It encourages us to be diligent in managing our material possessions, using them wisely instead of squandering them impulsively.
As followers of Christ, we are called to exercise wisdom in handling our resources, ensuring that we are responsible and intentional in our choices, rather than succumbing to a mindset of wastefulness and immediate gratification.
Proverbs 11:4
“Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”
This verse reminds us of the fleeting nature and ultimate insignificance of wealth and material possessions. On the day of judgment, material wealth becomes inconsequential, while righteousness holds eternal significance.
It serves as a reminder to prioritize righteousness and the pursuit of godliness above the accumulation of worldly riches, recognizing that our true worth and security lie in our relationship with God.
Luke 12:33-34
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
In this passage, Jesus encourages believers to have a generous and selfless attitude towards their possessions. He urges us to willingly give to those in need, recognizing that true treasure comes from investing in the kingdom of God.
By aligning our hearts and priorities with God’s kingdom, we store up treasures in heaven that are eternally secure and unaffected by worldly decay or loss.
Proverbs 13:7
“One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.”
This verse demonstrates that an outward display of wealth does not always reflect a person’s true riches. Material possessions can be deceiving, masking one’s spiritual poverty or true abundance.
As believers, it is important to evaluate our hearts and priorities, not being swayed by appearances or societal pressures, but seeking true riches found in our relationship with God and the fruit of the Spirit.
Luke 12:15-21
“Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’ And he told them this parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, “What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.” Then he said, “This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.'” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.'”‘
Through this parable, Jesus warns against the dangers of greed and hoarding wealth for selfish purposes. The rich man in the story was focused solely on his material possessions and neglected to prioritize his relationship with God.
This parable serves as a sobering reminder that true richness comes from being rich toward God, investing in eternity, and having a heart of generosity rather than accumulating wealth solely for personal gain.
Proverbs 3:9-10
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
This verse encourages believers to honor God with their wealth by giving to Him first and foremost. It teaches us the principle of tithing and offering, trusting that as we prioritize God’s kingdom, He will abundantly bless and provide for our needs.
By acknowledging God as the source of our provision and faithfully honoring Him with our material possessions, we can experience His overflowing blessings and provision in every area of our lives.
Matthew 19:21
“Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’
In this encounter with a rich young man, Jesus instructs him to sell his possessions and give to the poor in order to find true perfection and follow Him completely. This challenges the idea that material wealth holds ultimate value and significance.
It reminds us that true treasure and perfection are found in surrendering our earthly attachments and following Jesus wholeheartedly, recognizing that He is the only true source of fulfillment and eternal riches.
Proverbs 23:4-5
“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.”
These verses caution against the tireless pursuit of wealth and placing our trust in our own abilities or schemes to acquire material possessions. They remind us that worldly wealth is transient and can easily vanish or lose its value.
As believers, we are called to prioritize things of eternal significance rather than exhausting ourselves in the pursuit of wealth, recognizing that true riches are found in a deep relationship with God and seeking His kingdom above all else.
Mark 4:19
“but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”
This verse warns against the dangers of allowing the pursuit of wealth and material possessions to overshadow our spiritual growth and hinder the impact of God’s Word in our lives. It highlights how worry, deceitfulness, and desire for worldly things can choke our spiritual vitality.
As followers of Christ, we need to guard our hearts against the allure of materialism and prioritize our relationship with God, ensuring that His Word remains fruitful and transformative in every aspect of our lives.
Proverbs 15:16
“Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.”
This verse emphasizes the value of having a heart that reveres and honors God rather than pursuing vast wealth that may bring turmoil and unrest. It highlights the wisdom of finding contentment and peace in a life centered on God.
While material possessions may provide temporary comfort or security, true fulfillment and peace can only be found in a heart that chooses to fear and honor the Lord above all else.
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
This verse highlights the impossibility of divided allegiance between serving God and serving material wealth. It emphasizes the need to choose wholehearted devotion to God rather than becoming enslaved by the pursuit of worldly riches.
As followers of Christ, we are called to prioritize our relationship with God and place Him as the supreme authority in our lives, recognizing that true fulfillment and purpose can only be found by surrendering our lives to Him alone.
Proverbs 28:22
“A stingy person is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him.”
This verse highlights the danger of a stingy and selfish mentality when it comes to wealth. It warns that the pursuit of riches without a heart of generosity can lead to poverty in various aspects of life, including spiritual poverty.
As believers, we are called to be generous stewards of the resources and blessings entrusted to us, recognizing that a mindset of self-centeredness and hoarding ultimately leads to spiritual and emotional poverty.
Matthew 13:22
“The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”
This verse emphasizes the danger of allowing the worries and pursuit of material wealth to obstruct the growth and impact of God’s Word in our lives. It illustrates how worldly concerns and the deceitful allure of wealth can hinder our spiritual fruitfulness.
As followers of Christ, we need to cultivate hearts that prioritize hearing and applying God’s Word, guarding against the distractions and temptations that can suffocate our spiritual vitality and prevent us from bearing the fruit of righteousness.
Proverbs 22:16
“One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.”
This verse cautions against unjust practices and the pursuit of wealth at the expense of oppressing the poor. It warns that exploiting others or showing favoritism towards the rich will ultimately lead to poverty.
As believers, we are called to demonstrate compassion, justice, and generosity towards those in need, recognizing that true riches are not acquired through exploitation but through a heart that seeks to bless others and honor God.
Matthew 13:44
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
This parable demonstrates the value and worth of the kingdom of heaven compared to earthly possessions. It illustrates the willingness of a person to let go of everything they have in order to acquire the priceless treasure of God’s kingdom.
As followers of Christ, we are called to recognize the surpassing value of the kingdom of God, willingly surrendering our attachments to worldly possessions and investing our lives fully in pursuing a deep relationship with Him.
Proverbs 28:20
“A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”
This verse highlights the contrast between faithfully pursuing righteousness and being driven by a desire for wealth. It affirms that those who prioritize faithfulness to God will experience abundant blessings, while those who are solely focused on acquiring wealth will face consequences.
As believers, we are called to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, trusting that as we align our lives with His purposes, He will abundantly provide for our needs and bless us according to His will.
Matthew 19:23-24
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.'”
This verse emphasizes the difficulty for the wealthy to prioritize the kingdom of heaven over their material possessions. Jesus uses the vivid imagery of a camel passing through the eye of a needle to illustrate the challenge.
It serves as a reminder that the pursuit of wealth can easily become a hindrance to our spiritual lives, and we need to guard our hearts against the entanglements of materialism, recognizing the supremacy of God’s kingdom in our lives.
Proverbs 11:28
“Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.”
This verse contrasts the fate of those who place their trust in wealth versus those who trust in the Lord. It assures that those who rely on material riches will eventually stumble, while the righteous who trust in God will flourish.
As followers of Christ, we need to anchor our trust and hope in the Lord rather than the uncertainties of wealth, recognizing that true prosperity comes from a deep relationship with Him and living in alignment with His principles.
Ecclesiastes 5:10
“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.”
This verse exposes the empty pursuit of wealth and the insatiable nature of the love of money. It challenges the notion that accumulating more and more possessions will bring lasting satisfaction and purpose.
As believers, we are called to find contentment in God and recognize the futility of chasing after material wealth. True fulfillment and purpose can only be found in a life centered on pursuing a deep and meaningful relationship with Him.
Proverbs 10:22
“The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.”
This verse reveals that true wealth and blessing come from the Lord and not from our own efforts or the accumulation of possessions. It highlights the supernatural nature of God’s provision and the blessings that flow from a life aligned with His will.
As followers of Christ, we should trust in God’s provision and rely on His blessings, understanding that true wealth extends far beyond material possessions and is ultimately found in a life surrendered to Him.
Matthew 6:33
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
This verse encourages believers to prioritize God’s kingdom and righteousness above earthly concerns. It assures us that as we seek God first, He will provide for our needs and bless us according to His will.
By placing our trust in God’s faithfulness, we can let go of the anxiety and preoccupation with material wealth, knowing that our ultimate security and provision come from a life surrendered to Him.
Proverbs 28:25
“The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.”
This verse highlights the destructive nature of greed and the conflicts it can engender. It reveals that those who trust in the Lord will experience prosperity, not just in material terms, but in the overall well-being of their lives.
As believers, we are called to reject greed and place our trust in the Lord, knowing that He is our ultimate provider and that true prosperity is found in a life lived in accordance with His principles and seeking His kingdom above all else.