Ganância
A ganância é raiz de todos os males. A Bíblia alerta contra a cobiça, o acúmulo egoísta e o amor ao dinheiro, chamando-nos ao contentamento e à confiança em Deus.
O amor ao dinheiro
O amor ao dinheiro é raiz de todos os males. Quem quer enriquecer cai em tentação, armadilha e desejos insensatos.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
9 But they that desire to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, the which is idolatry;
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;
Contentamento
Tende cuidado e guardai-vos de toda espécie de ganância. A vida de um homem não consiste na abundância dos bens que possui.
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
36 For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth consume, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
4 Weary not thyself to be rich; cease from thine own wisdom.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall have increase.
Riqueza ilusória
As riquezas são passageiras. Quem ama o dinheiro nunca terá o suficiente. O contentamento com o que se tem é verdadeira riqueza.
10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this also is vanity.
15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
26 There is that coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
6 For for this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God’s service, attending continually upon this very thing.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.