Wealth and materialism are major obstacles to pure holiness
without sin.
Jesus himself, through his modest, simple, and humble life, is the perfect example of how true wealth is not of this world. He declared, “My kingdom is not of this world
” (John 18:36), emphasizing that he did not accumulate any
earthly wealth. When he said, “ Do not lay up treasures on
earth ” (Matthew 6:19), he invited us to turn our attention
away from material possessions and refocus on heavenly
treasures. His call to the rich young ruler,
“ Go, sell all that you have and come, follow me ”
(Matthew 19:21), clearly illustrates that attachment to wealth
is incompatible with a life wholly devoted to God.
Jesus’ material poverty is also visible in passages such as his teaching about breadcrumbs (Matthew 15:27) and his lack of personal possessions, stating, “ Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has
nowhere to lay his head ” (Luke 9:58).
Even the apostle Paul, who followed Christ’s example, lived in frugality, asking
Timothy to bring him a simple winter coat (2 Timothy 4:13).
These examples underscore that the lives of Jesus and the apostles were marked by voluntary material poverty, chosen
to focus on spiritual riches.
John 6:12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world.
Jesus Christ answers Pontius Pilate with firmness and conviction
In this context, the doctrine of the prosperity gospel, which advocates the accumulation of earthly wealth as a divine blessing, is in total opposition to the teachings and to the earthly exemple of Christ.
This false gospel encourages attachment to material things and the cult of appearances : nice cars, comfortable homes, expensive clothes and tasty
food. Jesus, on the contrary, denounced these vanities,
recalling that ” dust you are, and to dust you shall
return ”
(Genesis 3:19). The quest for earthly riches distracts from true holiness and feeds pride, a deadly sin .
Wealth is an obstacle to holiness because it feeds the passions and binds the heart to what is perishable . Following the example of Jesus and the apostles, christians are called to live simply, detached from the goods of this world, and to seek eternal treasures in the kingdom of God.
Greed or cupidity, is an uncontrolled desire to accumulate or use material goods or personal advantages, whether food, money, land, homes, cars, possessions, or social values such as power or status. This excessive desire, when left unchecked, becomes a major obstacle to a spiritual life in
accordance with God’s will.
In Christian ethics, greed is strongly condemned because it reflects an excessive attachment to earthly things and distracts the heart from what is essential: a sincere relationship with God. Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:19-21:
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
destroy, and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also .” Greed, by focusing on material possessions, alienates the soul from God.
It cultivates a spirit of dissatisfaction, envy, and selfishness, contrary to the Christian values of contentment, generosity, humility and love of neighbor.
The Bible teaches that true wealth lies not in material possessions, but in obedience to God’s will.
The apostle John writes in 1 John 2:17, “ The world is passing away, and
the lust thereof; but he who does the will of God abides
forever .”
The one who does God’s will has incorruptible riches: inner peace, communion with the Creator, and the hope of eternal life . These spiritual treasures far surpass the fleeting pleasures of material possessions, which can neither
fully satisfy the soul nor provide lasting security.
Matthew 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant man seeking goodly pearls. He found one pearl of great price, and went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Greed leads to many spiritual dangers. It divides the heart, making a man incapable of fully serving God. Jesus warned in
Matthew 6:24, “ You cannot serve God and mammon . It also causes one to measure the value of life in terms of material possessions, which is contrary to Jesus’ teaching:
A man’s life does not consist in the things he possesses ”
(Luke 12:15). Finally, it closes the heart to generosity and love
for one’s neighbor, thus depriving the rich of the opportunity
to reflect God’s grace.
In Luke 12:16-21, Jesus illustrates this danger with the parable of the rich fool. This man accumulates wealth in abundance, but God says to him, “ You fool! This night your life will be required of you. And what you have prepared, for
whom will it be?
” This parable emphasizes the futility of earthly riches and the importance of preparing for eternity.
Only those who seek to be rich in God find true wealth. Mark 8:36 What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
To combat greed, the emphasis is on opposing values.
Contentment, as Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:6-8: “ Godliness with contentment is great gain. ” Generosity, which enriches spiritually and reflects God’s character, and dependence on God, which frees the soul from attachment to
material possessions. Job, in his trial, declares in faith:
“ The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!” » (Job 1:21).
Greed is a trap that diverts man from his true calling: to glorify God and do his will. True wealth is not found in material possessions, but in a life dedicated to the will of God, full of contentment, peace and communion with the Creator.
Sermon 28, John Wesley, Eighth Discourse
“To use wealth without real utility and without real need is to use it to our great harm, by provoking vain desires, by feeding our evil inclinations, by flattering our passions and encouraging us in a foolish disposition of soul. For luxury in
eating and drinking, luxury of clothes and houses, the
splendor of carriages, joyfu amusements and pleasures, all
this naturally puts disorder in our heart.
All this nourishes the folly and weakness of our nature and only maintains and
favors what should not be.
All this thwarts that sobriety, that piety of heart which tastes divine things. These are so many burdens which weigh on our soul and which make us less
desirous and less able to raise our thoughts to things above.”
Sermon 120, On the Dress, John Wesley
Experience shows that fine clothes have a natural tendency to make a man sick with pride. Ordinary clothes have no such tendency. While this is true, you may also be sick of the pride of these. But they have no natural tendency to cause or increase this disease. Therefore, all who desire to be clothed
with humility, abstain from this poison.
Secondly, the wearing of gay or expensive clothing naturally tends to produce and increase vanity. By vanity I here mean the love and desire of being admired and praised, of being seen or flattered by others