37 Bible Verses about Materialism, As An Aspect Of Sin

pretending to be wise, they became fools: the honour due to God, who is immortal, they transferr'd to idols representing men, who are mortal, to birds, and beasts, and insects.

While Paul was expecting them at Athens, he was grieved to the soul to see the whole city o'er-spread with idols.

for men will be selfish, avaricious, vain, proud, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful,

wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

themselves to temptations and snares, and to many foolish noxious passions, which plunge men into ruin and perdition. for the love of money is the root of all evil: which some having obtain'd, have revolted from the faith, and brought upon themselves variety of piercing pains.

Jesus said, if thou wilt be perfect, go sell your estate, give the value to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: then come and follow me. but when the young man heard that, he went away dejected: for he had great possessions.

upon hearing that, Jesus said to him, one thing you have yet to do: sell all you have, and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: then come, and follow me. upon hearing this he was very sad: for he had a large estate.

Then one of the twelve, Judas Iscariot by name, went to the chief priests, and said, what will ye give me, and I will deliver him to you? and they promised him thirty pieces of silver. from which time he watched a favourable opportunity to deliver him.

he that possesses the enjoyments of life, and seeing his brother in want, has no compassion for him, how can he be said to have any divine love?

then said Jesus to his disciples, I declare unto you, it will be difficult for a rich man to enter into the gospel kingdom. I tell you again, it is easier for a cable to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the divine kingdom.

at this expression the disciples were much surpriz'd. but Jesus reassum'd the discourse, and said, how difficult a thing is it for those, who place their trust in riches, to enter into the divine kingdom? it is easier for a cable to pass thro' the eye of a needle, than for such a rich man to enter into the divine kingdom.

Jesus perceiving him so very dejected, said, how difficult is it for those, who have riches, to enter into the kingdom of God! it is easier for a cable to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

he that is meant by the thorny ground, where other seed fell, is one that heareth the word: which by cares of this life, and the deceitful love of riches, is soon stifled, and becomes unfruitful:

as for those, who receive seed as among thorns: they are such as hear the word. but the cares of this life, the deceitful love of riches, and a crowd of different passions, stifle the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

the ground over-run with thorns denotes such as have embraced the doctrine, but are so immerst in the business, enjoyments, and pleasures of life, as not to improve it to any real advantage.

Charge those that are rich in this world, not to be elated, not to depend upon their perishable wealth, but upon the God of life, who furnishes us with every thing in plenty for our enjoyment; to be beneficent, to be rich in good works, to be liberal to the common fund, securing to themselves a well-grounded expectation of obtaining hereafter an immortal life.

when any one, adorn'd with a gold ring, and a splendid dress, enters into your assembly; and a poor man comes in meanly habited: if you should respectfully say to the suit of fine cloths, sit you there, that's for quality; and to the poor man, stand thou there, or place your self at my feet: have not you made an arbitrary distinction, don't your judgments flow from a vicious principle?read more.
consider, my dear brethren, has not God chose the poor of this world to be rich by faith, and to inherit the kingdom he has promised to those who love him?

As for you that are rich: weep, and lament the miserys that are falling upon you. your wealth is wasted, your wardrobe is devour'd by the worm, and your gold and silver by rust: that rust shall convict you: that rust shall corrode your flesh like a caustic, which you have treasur'd up against the last days.read more.
hark! what a noise there is of hire, of which you cheated the labourers, who gather'd in your harvest! the cries of the reapers have reach'd even the Lord of the celestial militia. you have liv'd on the earth in voluptuousness and luxury: you have indulg'd your selves as in a day of sacrifice: you have condemn'd the just, you have put him to death, though he did not oppose you.

but God said to him, thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee: who then shall enjoy what thou hast provided? such is he, who heaps up his treasure here, and makes no provision for another world.

as we brought nothing into the world, certain it is, we can carry nothing away. having therefore food and raiment,

Lay not up for your selves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.

what advantage is it to a man to gain the whole world at the price of his life? or what would not a man pay down to preserve his life?

what advantage is it for a man to gain the whole world with the loss of his life? or what would not a man bestow to preserve himself?

for whoever would save his life, shall lose it: and he that would lose his life, out of love to me, shall save it. what advantage is it for a man to have gain'd the whole world, if he himself runs into utter loss and ruin?

but he said to them, you pretend to piety before men, which, however they may admire, is an abomination to God, who knows your real temper.

Let him that is poor triumph in the advantages of being a christian. let the rich be humbled by his instability: for he is as transitory as a flower in the field. the sun is up and darts its rays, the grass is wither'd, its flowers droop, and all their beautiful appearance vanishes away. just so the rich man fades with all his projects.

you say you are rich, and have increased your gain, and have need of nothing; but you do not consider that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

Jesus replyed, the foxes have kennels, and the birds of the air have nests; but the son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Jesus answered him, foxes have their kennels, and birds of the air their nests, but the son of man hath not where to lay his head.

for the same temper of mind ought to be in you as was in Christ Jesus: who tho' he was the image of God, did not affect to appear with divine majesty, but divested himself thereof,

then he said to them, take care to be clear of all avarice: for the enjoyment of life does not depend upon the having large possessions.

I therefore direct you, not to be sollicitous, with regard to life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor with regard to the body, what clothes ye shall wear: Is not life it self a greater gift than food; and the body a greater gift than rayment? consider the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor lay up any stores; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much greater value than they? who by all his sollicitude can add one moment to his age?read more.
And as for rayment, why should that give you pain? consider the lillies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. and yet I tell you, even Solomon with all his magnificence, was not arrayed like one of these. now if God thus adorns the flower of the field, which thriving to day, is to morrow thrown into the oven, how much more shall he provide for you, if you have any degree of faith? therefore make no such sollicitous enquiries, as what shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or how shall we be clothed? things which the Gentiles are so thoughtful about, and which your heavenly Father knows that you want.

let your morals be free from avarice, being contented with what you have: for he hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Love not the world, nor let worldly things engage your affections. he that is worldly affected is a stranger to divine love. for what the world is so full of, sensuality, avarice, and pride, is not deriv'd from the creator, but is the offspring of a vicious world. and the world is passing away, with all its vices: but he that obeys the divine will, shall enjoy a life of immortality.

then Peter said, silver and gold have I none; but such as I have I give thee: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, rise up and walk.

Now the whole body of believers were but one heart, and one soul: no one look'd upon what he possessed, as his own, but every thing was held in common. Great was the power by which the apostles attested the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and they were all greatly favoured by the people. for there was no poor among them, because as many as bad lands or houses, sold them, and brought the value,read more.
which they laid down at the apostles feet: and they distributed it to every man as his occasions required. among the rest one Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (that is to say, the son of consolation) a Levite, and a native of Cyprus, sold an estate he had, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles feet.

it is not my indigence that makes me say this: for I have learn'd, in whatevever state I am, therewith to be content: I know how to be in want, I know how to abound: every where, and in every circumstance, I have been prepar'd for fulness or famine, for plenty or penury: