Materialismo
O materialismo é uma armadilha espiritual. A Bíblia alerta que o amor ao dinheiro é raiz de todos os males e nos chama a buscar tesouros no céu, não na terra.
O perigo das riquezas
Que aproveita ao homem ganhar o mundo inteiro e perder a sua alma? O materialismo engana e afasta do que realmente importa.
26 For what shall a man be profited, if the whole world he shall acquire, and his soul shall perish? or what equivalent shall a man give for his soul?
36 For what is a man profited, if the whole world he gain, and his soul be lost?
9 But they who will be rich fall into temptations and snares, and many lusts which befool and injure, and which plunge men into destruction and perdition.
7 For nothing brought we into the world, and we know that nothing we are able to take from it.8 Therefore sufficient to us are food and raiment.
7 For nothing brought we into the world, and we know that nothing we are able to take from it.8 Therefore sufficient to us are food and raiment.
Tesouros no céu
Ajuntai tesouros no céu, onde traça e ferrugem não consomem. O bom nome vale mais que muitas riquezas, e a sabedoria supera o ouro.
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures in the earth, a place where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves dig through and steal:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where no moth and no rust corrupt, and where thieves do not dig through and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there also your hearts are.
21 Jeshu saith to him, If thou wilt become perfect, go, sell thy possession and give to the poor, and there shall be for thee a treasure in heaven: and come after me.
Contentamento e generosidade
Grande ganho é a piedade com contentamento. A cobiça é idolatria, mas a generosidade traz alegria e bênção.
6 But thou, remove thyself from them. For our gain is great which is the fear of Aloha, with the use of our sufficiency.
17 The rich of this world instruct, that they be not uplifted in their minds, nor be trustful upon riches which have no security, but upon Aloha the living, who giveth to us all abundantly for our comfort;
5 Let not your mind love money; but let whatever ye have suffice you: for the Lord hath said, I will not abandon thee, nor withhold from thee support .
5 Put to death, then, your members that are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, and passions, and evil desires, and covetousness, which itself is idolatry.
15 And he said to his disciples, Beware of all avarice: for life is not in the abundance of riches.
O invisível acima do visível
As coisas que se veem são temporais; as que não se veem são eternas. Devemos fixar os olhos no que é permanente e verdadeiro.
18 While we look not on these which are seen, but at those which are unseen. For the seen are of time, but the unseen are of eternity.
9 So also let women with decorous simplicity of apparel,with modesty and with chastity, adorn themselves, not with braidings, and with gold, and with pearls, and with fine vestments,10 but with good works, as becometh women who profess the fear of Aloha.
32 BUT to the assembly of the men who believed there was one soul and one mind; and no man of them said of the goods which he possessed that they were his own, but all whatever they had was in common.