1. The story of King Ahab and Naboth’s Vineyard (1 Kings 21): King Ahab had everything a king could want, but when he saw Naboth’s vineyard, he coveted it. He offered to buy it or trade it with a better vineyard, but Naboth refused to sell his ancestral land. Ahab’s wife, Queen Jezebel, then plotted to have Naboth falsely accused and stoned to death so that Ahab could take the vineyard. God sent the prophet Elijah to confront Ahab and declare his judgment for his greed and injustice.
2. The Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21): A rich man who had a bountiful harvest decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones to store his abundance. He thought he could relax and enjoy his wealth for years to come. However, God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” His greed left him empty-handed and unprepared for eternity.
3. The story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11): Ananias and his wife sold a piece of property and kept back some of the proceeds for themselves, claiming they had given the entire sum to the apostles. Peter discerned their lie and rebuked them, saying, “Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” They both fell down dead, one after the other, as a sign of God’s judgment on their greed and hypocrisy.
4. The story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32): Although this story is commonly known for its theme of forgiveness and redemption, it also highlights the consequences of greed. The younger son demanded his inheritance from his father and left home to squander it on wild living. He was left with nothing and ended up working as a swineherd and eating pig’s food. His greed had led to his own downfall and shame.
