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 the root of all evil: which while some have coveted, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
9 But they that will be rich, fall into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which 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 the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; lewdness, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
3 But lewdness and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once 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 to them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul:
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
4 Labor not to be rich: cease from thy own wisdom.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labor shall 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 \5:11\When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners of them, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
15 \5:16\And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath labored for the wind?
26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
6 For, for this cause ye pay tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
36 Incline my heart to thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.