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 will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?
9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. 8 But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. 8 But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.
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 "Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;
21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches,
and loving favour is better than silver and gold.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
16 Better is little, with the fear of the LORD,
than great treasure with trouble.
Contentamento e generosidade
Grande ganho é a piedade com contentamento. A cobiça é idolatria, mas a generosidade traz alegria e bênção.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
17 Charge those who are rich in this present age that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;
5 Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you."
5 Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
15 He said to them, "Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses."
10 He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.
15 As he came out 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.
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 don’t look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
4 Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not?
For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long;
but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies.
Give me neither poverty nor riches.
Feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9 In the same way, that women also adorn themselves in decent clothing, with modesty and propriety, not with braided hair, gold, pearls, or expensive clothing, 10 but with good works, which is appropriate for women professing godliness.
32 The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. Not one of them claimed that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.