6:101 Timothy 6:10

The verse condemns not money or wealth itself, which can be honestly earned and thankfully received as a gift, but the selfish love of money wrongfully employed.Lt 70, 1893, par. 29–33+4 That love is a root from which evil grows, the root of all evil and of every kind of evil, a special peril of the last days.1T 540.2+4 Those bent on being rich fall into temptation and a snare and into foolish, hurtful cravings that drown them in ruin, so that in coveting after money they wander from the faith and pierce themselves with sorrows of their own making.1T 540.2+2 Left unchecked that craving grows stronger until it becomes the ruling passion, an idolatry that makes gold and mammon a god instead of God, displaces love for God and for others, and enslaves its victim to fraud, oppression, and every crime.Lt 31, 1891, par. 50–51+4 The man of God must therefore flee it and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness, holding wealth only as a trust to do good and be rich in good works, with godliness and contentment as the true gain.Ms 81, 1908, par. 22–26+4

The condemnation falls on the love of money, not on money or wealth itself.Lt 70, 1893, par. 29–33+4 Acquiring means and being rich are not sin in themselves, for power to get wealth is given by God, money is to be earned by labor, and no one is condemned for being rich if riches are honestly acquired.Ms 124, 1898, par. 25–27+3 Wealth honestly gained and received thankfully as the Lord's is a precious gift and blessing, to be used as an entrusted trust for blessing others and saving souls, whose worth exceeds riches.Ms 124, 1898, par. 25–27+3 It is not proof of godliness or of divine favor, and to treat gain as godliness is deception.Ms 4, 1900, par. 9–11+1 The evil is selfish love wrongfully employed, loving money for self-gratification and self-glorification instead of returning to God His own.Ms 124, 1898, par. 25–27+2

That love is a root from which evil grows.1T 540.2+4 It is the root of all evil and of all kinds of evil, a latter-day peril causing departure from the faith.Ms 81, 1908, par. 22–26+4 Those determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition and ruin.1T 540.2+4 The desire to become rich entangles in temptation and harmful desires, leads to sacrifice of faith and principle, to fraud and oppression such as keeping back laborers' wages while they struggle in poverty, and fails to bring expected happiness.1T 540.2+3 While some coveted after money they wandered and erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows of their own making.1T 540.2+4 That craving draws into withholding from God what belongs to Him, holding back mites and refusing to invest means to save perishing souls, and money so refused perishes and gains no interest in heaven's bank.Ms 31, 1907, par. 18+2

The warning was given as a dying charge while shut in a dungeon, pressed with infirmities and fearing that Nero would cut life short before seeing Timothy, his son in the gospel whom he had urged to come without delay, dictating it to his companion in prison.Lt 3, 1878, par. 5 That counsel, including this warning, shows deep desire for Timothy's success.Lt 3, 1878, par. 5+1 The verse belongs with its context in 1 Timothy 6:9-12 and 6:10-14: godliness with contentment, being content with necessities such as food and clothing, fleeing these things, and following after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness.Ms 25, 1896, par. 1–4+4 The man of God must fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life to which he is called with good profession before many witnesses, which requires daily sanctification for the Master's use.Ms 81, 1908, par. 22–26+3 Those who name Christ must depart from iniquity on the sure foundation of God, and hold to the sure Word of prophecy instead of turning from the fountain of living waters to broken cisterns of human teaching.Lt 4, 1893, par. 12–16+1 Those rich in this world must be charged not to be highminded nor trust uncertain riches but in the living God who gives richly all things to enjoy, to do good, be rich in good works, ready to distribute and willing to communicate, laying up a good foundation against time to come.Lt 3, 1878, par. 5+1

Left unchecked, the love of money does not stay still but grows daily stronger until it overbalances love for the Saviour and becomes the ruling passion of life.DA 716.2–3+2 Once it takes full hold it enslaves its victim, binds him ever more tightly to the world, makes money his master, and puts him in danger of going to any lengths in crime.3T 544.2+2 That enslavement can displace devotion to God, sacrifice eternal interests for earthly treasure, and leave a person unready to face divine judgment.3T 544.2+1 Judas shows how far this goes, for his avarice grew until love of money outweighed love for Christ, crowded out truth, led him to misuse entrusted money and resent Mary's offering, and at last to sell Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave, to humiliation and death.DA 716.2–3+1 Removal demands strong decided effort, even as if plucking out the right eye or cutting off the right arm, for unless this love of mammon is overcome it will cost salvation.5T 340.1

This love is idolatry, making money, gold and mammon a god and a confidence instead of God.Lt 31, 1891, par. 50–51+3 Affection is turned from God to worship mammon, pursuing wealth by a course God cannot approve, weakening spiritual life and carrying the person farther from true happiness.ST Feb 19, 1902+1 Covetousness so understood opposes Christian generosity, shows itself in neglecting duties and failing to use entrusted gifts for His work, and leaves no inheritance in God's kingdom.Lt 31, 1891, par. 50–51+1 Whoever makes gold his confidence will be pierced with many sorrows, for craving gain leads away from faith into temptation, harmful lusts, snare and ruin.Lt 31, 1891, par. 50–51+2 That grasping of worldly treasure is God's protest against the greed of the natural heart, recorded in heaven whether in nations, churches, institutions or individuals, and surely followed by retribution.15MR 74.2+1 Lawrence illustrates the same moral disease, for his pursuit of gain led him to withhold money and hinder the Lord's work until repentance began in recognizing his condition, surrendering to God, and repaying what he had withheld.Lt 167, 1897, par. 23–27

It displaces love for God and humanity, roots out love for one another, and breeds supreme selfishness, closeness and avarice.3T 126.2–127.2+2 Taking firm hold and carried out in all the transactions of life, it conforms a person to the world instead of transforming him by the renewing of the mind.TCBMP 164.2–165.2 Selfish gain then becomes the greatest object, producing loss of self-command, covetous desire to retain all possible means, selfish dealing that advantages self to the disadvantage of others, and bitterness that destroys peace, happiness and confidence between brethren to the reproach of God's cause.3T 126.2–127.2+1 Coveted property so held becomes a root of bitterness and a heavier stewardship than can be well managed, while the same powers sanctified for active service in the Master's vineyard would do much good with energy, efficiency, humility, respect and influence, but perverted do great harm.TCBMP 164.2–165.2 Attachment to earthly wealth thus leads a person to serve self, surrender life and God-given gifts to evil, and forfeit soul and eternal life, sacrificing heaven rather than giving up money.2T 241.2

It perverts and debases God-given abilities, quick perception and understanding, dwarfs spiritual powers, and makes the possessor selfish, penurious and overbearing.3T 126.2–127.2+2 The mind becomes dazed and blinded, judgment is weakened, and as wealth grows some trust in it rather than in God and His promises, becoming fearful of future need and hoarding means selfishly so that they are left poor toward God.ST Mar 11, 1889 Love of gain wars against the Spirit of Christ and cannot abide in the heart where love of truth is an abiding principle.Lt 3, 1878, par. 2 Cherishing scheming propensities to secure a bargain with a keen business eye destroys love of truth until fraud becomes second nature.Lt 3, 1878, par. 2 Even while reason and conscience remonstrate and longings of the soul still go out for holiness and heaven when the din of the world is put aside, habits of years impress character and bring desires into harmony with the attractions of the enemy, so sinful inclinations of gain-loving must be firmly resisted.Lt 3, 1878, par. 2

It exerts a fascinating, bewitching influence that usurps the place of God and religion in the soul. Worldliness of this kind was the ruling passion in the Jewish age and is so now, perverting nobility and corrupting humanity until men are drowned in perdition, with its service bringing care, perplexity and wearing labor for treasure that lasts only for a season. Loving wealth, rank and position gives Satan the allegiance he sought when he tempted Christ, drawing the heart from heavenly things under deceptive power.3T 480.1 The cares of this life and deceitfulness of riches choke the seed sown in the heart so that it bears no fruit to God's glory, producing a professed faith not sustained by works, a dead faith alone with great profession but deficient in good works that cannot save and has no virtue.ST Oct 13, 1898+1 Wealth so loved becomes an idol and a bond to Satan, so that no one can belong partly to God and partly to the world but must give up whatever separates him from Him.SC 44.1 Money has worth only when held in trust as the Lord's precious gift for blessing others, and when used to feed self-indulgence and self-glory it turns into a curse, a burden and a constant lure, enslaving talented people to scheming for worthless things while they neglect the bread of life and the meek and quiet spirit of great price to God.ST Oct 13, 1898

Selfishness in this same root appears as jealousy, suspicion and evil surmising, judging another person's work as inferior from self-importance.Lt 113a, 1897, par. 9 Such a spirit reveals disunion among God's workers and hinders the work.Lt 113a, 1897, par. 9

Love of money leads away from faith into many sorrows, and the desire for wealth can grow so powerful that affection turns from God to worship mammon, with pursuit by a course God cannot approve weakening spiritual life and taking a person farther from true happiness, while prosperity brings special danger through presumption and loss of salvation.ST Feb 19, 1902+2 Judas shows how this ruling motive works, for his avarice and acquisitiveness grew until love of money outweighed love for Christ.ST Feb 19, 1902+4 Indulged covetousness crowded truth out of his heart and kept him from learning integrity and unselfishness, leading him to misuse money entrusted for Christ's work and to resent Mary's costly offering.4T 41.1–42.1+1 By fostering one vice he made himself its slave and gave himself over to sin and to Satan's control.DA 716.2–3+1 For thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave, he sold Jesus to humiliation and death for a small sum.ST Feb 19, 1902+3

Ananias and Sapphira exemplify the same danger, for their love of money tempted them to deceive by dissembling and withholding from God's treasury the means entrusted for advancing His cause while pretending to give all they had.3SP 285.3–286.1+2 In professing to serve God they came to worship mammon instead, becoming avaricious hypocrites and dissemblers through Satan's temptation by various plans and excuses.3SP 285.3–286.1+1 Such love of money brings spiritual ruin and sorrow with the wrath and marked judgment of God upon the dissemblers, which if left unchecked would disgrace the church.3SP 285.3–286.1+1

Craving money brings forth all evil, as was fulfilled when the Roman Church made merchandise of the grace of God.4SP 101.3 Money-changers set their tables beside her altars with shouting buyers and sellers, and by authority of the pope indulgences for sin were publicly sold to raise funds for building St. Peter's church at Rome.4SP 101.3 A temple for God's worship was thus built by the price of crime, its cornerstone laid with the wages of iniquity, and that very greed for greatness provoked the blow that shook the papal throne to its foundation and jostled the triple crown on the pontiff's head.4SP 101.3 In the same age the friars' greed made religious authority a means of increasing wealth while the poor suffered and people were pressured to give alms, so that their riches and luxury stood in sharp contrast to their profession of poverty and exposed the harm caused by covetousness.GC88 83.1

When wealth cannot be gained by honest labor, craving for it pushes people into fraud, deception, crime, overreaching and dishonest dealing, into selling conscience and violating principle, honor and integrity, into unholy alliances and into watching for a chance to make money while calling it honest. 4T 352.1–353.1+3 That same danger reaches those who profess truth, and their share in such wrongdoing calls for deep humility. 4T 489.2 Money gotten by overreaching or dishonesty cannot serve God or earn a reward. 4T 352.1–353.1 To keep watching for a good chance to make money without thinking it dishonest is itself dishonest dealing and injustice condemned by God's law, dishonoring the profession of truth, and God cannot cooperate with such a course without a determined, thorough effort to be a Christian in the fullest sense by daily imitating Christ's unselfishness. Lt 3, 1878, par. 11 The condemned craving is a feverish, unsatisfied desire that drives men to invest with insane expectancy of becoming wealthy in a day, that makes life itself seem of no account when money is lost so that men end life by pistol, rope or drowning, that proves a snare to all who overreach, get money dishonestly and hoard it while the poor suffer. Lt 17, 1872, par. 9

The desire for gain leads to obtaining wealth by fraud and to oppressing laborers by keeping back wages while they struggle in poverty so the rich may indulge extravagance or hoard wealth. PK 650.3–651.1+1 It drives even those professing godliness to rob widows and orphans and deprive the poor of necessities, and Christians must reject greed and live to do others good. ST Dec 20, 1883 Covetousness blinds people to duty to God and neighbor, puts selfish gain above humanity, and brings harm to self and others. 1T 478.2–480.2 Wealthy Sabbath-keepers who exploit poor hard-working brethren for further gain display this evil even when they sometimes give generously to religious causes, damaging their religious influence, grieving and disgusting those they wrong so as to turn them against the faith, with their acts recorded by God. 1T 478.2–480.2 In America this love has taken large place in hearts of professed Christians alongside pride and covetousness, leading some to oppress the poor and grasp every advantage over those beneath them, and their treatment of the weak and helpless is recorded in heaven. RH Nov 23, 1916 When money is cherished or diverted to selfish and sinful purposes it strengthens evil, closes the heart to doing good, can make money an object of worship, and can lead to gain by deceit and violence. Ms 26, 1891, par. 42–46

Saying to gold, be thou my confidence, belongs to the greed of the natural heart which God protests against, and whoever makes gold his confidence will be pierced with many sorrows as retribution from God. 15MR 74.2+2 Whenever nations, churches, institutions or individuals depart from His way and will to pursue it, it is recorded in heaven and punishment surely follows, so His people are to keep themselves from all speculations. Ms 26, 1890, par. 9+1 Departing from God's way through love of money and speculation for fast gain in lands, mines and other schemes to get rich quickly brings many sorrows and bitter disappointment or ruin, yet God overrules human plans to save men from utter ruin. 15MR 70.3+2 The desire to get rich through speculation exposes people to temptation and can turn financial defeat into discouragement and backsliding, while contentment and trust in God guard against these dangers. 4T 617.2–618.1 The feverish pursuit of sudden excessive gains puts even young people at risk of ruin, since desire for gain opens the heart to alluring temptations that some cannot resist. STB 679.3

Wanting to be rich leads into temptation and a snare and into foolish hurtful lusts that drown men in ruin and destruction, and coveting after money makes people wander from faith and pierce themselves with many sorrows. Ms 31, 1907, par. 18+1 The warning applies to withholding from God what belongs to Him by holding back mites and refusing to invest means to save perishing souls. Ms 31, 1907, par. 18+2 Money refused for God perishes and gains no interest in heaven's bank, while money freely given lays up in heaven treasure that does not fail. STB 446.4–5+1 Covetousness and hoarding are idolatry and moral disease, as seen when Lawrence's pursuit of gain led him to withhold money and hinder the Lord's work until repentance began as he recognized his condition, surrendered to God and repaid what he had withheld. Lt 167, 1897, par. 23–27 Covetousness also led people to divert money pledged for distressed institutions and fields, hindering the work the funds were meant to support and obstructing others willing to give. Ms 66a, 1900, par. 3–5

Coveting gain can consume time and strength, make men sacrifice health and family life and leave them spiritually unfruitful, and claiming wealth will later support God's work does not remove the danger. 1T 476.1–478.1+2 Those determined to become rich may deceive themselves about motives, strain conscience and sacrifice faith and noble principles for riches. ST Mar 22, 1883+1 Even if they gain the wealth they seek it does not bring expected happiness; instead they become burdened with care and enslaved by avarice, often drawing families into the same hardship. ST Mar 22, 1883+1 Love of worldly gain leads those who make money their god to labor for unneeded things, risking health, spiritual joy and family peace while souls perish whom their time and means could help save. ST Jun 25, 1894 The desire to acquire wealth is one of Satan's means of engrossing minds and leaving no time for God's Word or preparation for heaven, while abilities entrusted to people belong to God, are to be kept sacred for His service, and are to be governed by His will not personal pleasure. Lt 89, 1896, par. 5+1

Driven to overwork to gain a little and save everything, outdoor laborers and mothers and children in the house tax to the utmost bone, muscle and brain. CH 98.1–2 For sake of gain and avoiding loss or waste, even with family consent, a husband and father may arrange business unwisely so that though principal is kept good and added to, the invaluable capital of health is steadily diminished by repeated drafts on strength until vigor of life is exhausted. CH 98.1–2 The sorrows piercing those who err thus are embittered sweetness and happiness of life, racking pains and sleepless nights, gone physical and mental vigor, nothing left to draw upon in emergency, and even burial of mother and children because health and life were sacrificed for money. CH 98.1–2

Love of money displaces love for God and humanity, breeds selfishness and greed, leads a person to use God-given abilities for personal gain, harms others and damages family peace and trust, as applied to covetous handling of inherited property and seeking to keep as much as possible for self. 3T 126.2–127.2 Fathers who selfishly keep means for children instead of relieving needs of God's cause make a serious mistake, since inherited wealth often brings bitterness, quarrels, envy, disrespect and family division rather than gratitude. 3T 121.3–4+1 Riches are desirable only for meeting present needs and doing good to others, and leaving children wealth they did not earn exposes them to temptation and hurtful lusts and can become a snare and curse rather than blessing. 3T 121.3–4+2 Bro. C's love of money and the world fed a grudging spirit so that he treated his wife's illness as burden and imagined poverty ahead, bringing misery on himself and family. 1T 696.1–2 Loving money as source of all evil brings unhappiness, discord and separation, as when a man marries a woman he does not love for her means, leaving him restless, dissatisfied and unhappy, sacrificing benevolence and manhood, giving control to evil when coveted money is within reach but cannot be fully commanded, gaining only empty disappointment, bringing God's curse, removing His prospering hand, and not paying because wages of such life of sin, error and wrong is death. Ms 1, 1868, par. 4–6 Inherited means may strengthen a money-loving nature and become added weight toward perdition, with the way out in seeking transforming grace and conforming the will to God. 2T 240.1

Trusting in riches leads thousands into sinful indulgences confirming intemperance and vice and ruining soul and body by strong drink and indulgence in lusts of the flesh. CH 15.1–3 Many once possessing wealth become wretched victims of want and sin, overcome by pollutions of the world, while thousands still in honor and usefulness, including ministers, statesmen, authors and men of wealth, talent and vast business capacity, set feet in same path in deadly peril because they do not see necessity of strict temperance in all things. CH 15.1–3 Money gained by making wine or cider that tempts a neighbor to drunkenness is obtained by breaking the law to love neighbor as self, and giving such money to God's treasury does not make the offering acceptable. 5T 360.3 It is no excuse that another might make the drink or that the neighbor might become a drunkard anyway, for choosing to place temptation before another makes one responsible for harm to souls, and Christians are called to oppose the devil's work rather than profit from it. 5T 360.3

Those caught by Satan pierce themselves with many sorrows, for he knows what elements he has to deal with and uses infernal wisdom to entrap souls to ruin, watching every step and making suggestions that are followed rather than counsel of God's word. MYP 448.1 His finely woven dangerous net, skillfully prepared to entangle the young and unwary and often disguised under covering of light, leaves wrecks of humanity everywhere, especially in underhand courtships and marriages. MYP 448.1 The warning about piercing with many sorrows applies to youth who resist God's claims and pursue sinful pleasures, since resisting truth brings inward distress and sorrow. 4T 626.1 The pursuit of wealth can draw people from faith and bring many sorrows, supporting the warning that young people may be ruined by selfish sensual pleasures and that parents must prepare children even before birth to resist temptations and fight evil. MH 371.3

Those who make riches their whole aim receive the honor and influence the world gives the rich but remain in rebellion against God and become powerful agents of Satan. 1T 352.2 Absorbed in worldly treasure they become insensible to claims of God and needs of fellow men, using wealth not as talent for glory of God and uplifting of humanity but to indulge and glorify self, adding house to house and land to land and filling homes with luxuries while want stalks streets and misery, crime, disease and death surround them. 6T 256.2–257.1+1 Giving life to such self-serving develops in them not attributes of God but attributes of Satan, so those held by it need the gospel to turn eyes from vanity of material things to preciousness of enduring riches and to learn joy of giving and blessedness of working together with God. 6T 256.2–257.1+1 Love of riches puts rich people where they indulge every wish for grandeur, brings out human weakness, leaves them without goodness toward God, lifts up the man with houses and lands so deceived by respect paid him that he looks down on the poor man who may have virtues he lacks. ST Jun 21, 1899 When weighed in balances of the sanctuary the selfish covetous rich will be found lacking while the poor who depended only on God will be declared heir to lasting riches. ST Jun 21, 1899 The danger lies not in possessing wealth but in loving riches, for prosperity can destroy spiritual life even without common vices, like a cup filled to the brim harder to carry than an empty one, requiring careful spiritual balance and dependence on God. MH 211.3–212.2

Acquiring means and being rich are not sin in themselves, for power to get wealth is given by God and money is to be earned by labor, and no one is condemned for being rich if riches are honestly acquired.Ms 124, 1898, par. 25–27+2 Wealth honestly gained, received thankfully as belonging to the Lord and returned to Him for His work rather than used to gratify self or hoarded, is a precious gift of God and a blessing to possessor and others.Ms 124, 1898, par. 25–27+4 It is not proof of godliness or of divine favor, and to treat gain as godliness is deception.Ms 4, 1900, par. 9–11 The condemned thing is the feverish, unsatisfied craving of the love of money for selfish gratification, which leads into temptation and harmful desires, turns people from faith, and brings many sorrows of their own making.Ms 4, 1900, par. 9–11+2

Wealth has worth only when held in trust as the Lord's precious gift for blessing others and saving souls, whose salvation is worth more than untold hoarded riches, and it proves a blessing when used in the Lord's work instead of being hoarded in expensive mansions or bank-stock or idly kept.Ms 82, 1898, par. 2–6+3 Money itself can be used for great good, but when cherished or diverted to selfish and sinful purposes it strengthens evil, closes the heart to doing good, becomes an object of worship, and leads to oppressing others or pursuing gain through deceit and violence.Ms 26, 1891, par. 42–46+2 When used to feed self-indulgence and self-glory it turns into a curse, a burden and encumbrance, a temptation and constant lure, enslaving even talented people to scheming for worthless things while they neglect the bread of life and rob God of the fruit of His vineyard.Ms 82, 1898, par. 2–6+2 Injustice in small matters thus extends to matters of eternal importance, for those who rob others also rob God.Lt 98, 1900, par. 34–35

Against thinking gain equals godliness stands godliness with contentment as great gain, since nothing was brought into the world and nothing can be carried out, so food and clothing should satisfy.Lt 70, 1893, par. 29–33+2 Craving wealth draws into temptation and harmful desires and abandonment of faith, and the desire to get rich quickly through speculation exposes to defeat that can turn into discouragement and backsliding, while contentment and trust in God with fleeing love of money and pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness guard against these dangers.Lt 70, 1893, par. 29–33+2 Prosperity is a particular danger because it can lead to presumption and loss of salvation, weakening spiritual life and taking a person farther from true happiness when pursued by a course God cannot approve.ST Feb 19, 1902+2

Love of riches puts possessors where they indulge every wish for grandeur, brings out human weakness, leaves them without goodness toward God, lifts up the man with houses and lands so that, deceived by the respect paid him, he looks down on the poor man who may have virtues he lacks.ST Feb 19, 1902+1 Even without common vices prosperity can destroy spiritual life, for the cup filled to the brim is harder to carry than the empty one and requires careful spiritual balance and dependence on God.ST Jun 21, 1899+1 When weighed in the balances of the sanctuary the selfish, covetous rich will be found lacking, while the poor who depended only on God for goodness will be declared heir to lasting riches, honored and glorified in His kingdom.Lt 17, 1872, par. 9+1

The love of money and earthly treasures is Satan's special snare for those who look for Christ's second appearing and keep all God's commandments, whom he hates because they take his subjects to keep God's law.EW 227.1+2 He works to make possessors of lands and money drunk with cares, to fix their affections upon these things presented in the most attractive light so they love and idolize the world and care more for money than for the success of Christ's kingdom and the spread of truth.EW 227.1+2 As long as covetousness and love of earthly treasures rule character, salvation and grace stand back, love for one another is destroyed, giving becomes grudging and sparing, means that should go to Christ's service is kept back in Satan's ranks, and ministers are driven to want and distress.ST Jul 9, 1894+2 It eats out the vitals of professed believers and, joined with friendship with the world, chokes the seed so they bear no fruit, leaving a professed but dead faith without sustaining works, unfaithful stewardship that withholds from God's cause and wills property to unbelieving reckless children to squander or hoard and worship, for which account must shortly be rendered to God.ST Jul 9, 1894+1

The man of God must flee love of money and all such desires for riches, and instead follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness.Ms 81, 1908, par. 22–26+4 He must fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life to which he is called, holding firmly to it with a good profession made before many witnesses.Ms 81, 1908, par. 22–26+3 Ambition and presumption that crave wealth lead into temptation and a snare and into foolish, hurtful lusts that drown men in destruction, perdition and ruin, and coveting after money causes wandering and erring from the faith and piercing through with many sorrows of one's own making.Ms 81, 1908, par. 22–26+2 This fleeing is the remedy for a latter-day peril, for love of money is the root of all evil and a root of evil.Ms 81, 1908, par. 22–26+2

Doing this requires daily sanctification for the Master's use, with Christ's molding and fashioning, being clothed with garments of righteousness.Lt 53, 1895, par. 2–4 It requires bringing His sweetness and fragrance of character into practical life in order to become a vessel unto honor.Lt 53, 1895, par. 2–4 Those rich in this world must be charged not to be highminded nor to trust in uncertain riches, but to trust in the living God who gives richly all things to enjoy.Lt 3, 1878, par. 5+2 They must be charged to do good, to be rich in good works, ready to distribute and willing to communicate, laying up in store a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life.Lt 3, 1878, par. 5+1 Possessing wealth is not itself the danger condemned, but craving it, trusting it, becoming proud through it, and gaining it by overreaching or dishonesty which can never serve God or earn reward.4T 352.1–353.1

Ministers must not seek to be rich, and love of gain must not become prominent among them.GW 340.2+2 Both by life and by teaching they must flee this temptation, pursue what is righteous and godly, and warn against hurrying after wealth and sacrificing God-given powers to mammon.GW 340.2+2 Abilities entrusted to men belong to God and are to be kept sacred for His service, governed by His will and not by personal pleasure.Lt 89, 1896, par. 5 Leaders must begin reform with their own self-sacrifice and example, for receiving large wages while urging others to practice self-denial makes the central work seem ordinary and encourages unbelief.Lt 94, 1899, par. 8–10

Money freely given to the Lord's work lays up in heaven treasure that does not fail, while money refused for God and withheld from saving perishing souls perishes and gains no interest in the bank of heaven.STB 446.4–5+1 Withholding from God what belongs to Him by holding back mites and refusing to invest means brings temptation, snare, wandering from faith and wounding with many sorrows.STB 446.4–5+1 One who is honest before God fears his own means as a snare that can trap in evil and draw from faith, and gives liberally to keep it from ensnaring him.LSEGW 244.4 When a person feels his own weakness and moves in the fear of God, the Lord becomes his strength, giving greater clearness of mind and power of intellect to plan and execute and to push forward needed reforms.LSEGW 244.4

Escape requires no delay and thorough, determined effort to be a Christian in the fullest sense, imitating day by day the unselfishness of Christ.Lt 3, 1878, par. 11 It requires resolving before God that in future dealings no wilful wrong will be done, looking over past life carefully and prayerfully, and where neighbor or brother was wronged in any matter small or great making it right at any cost to self.Lt 3, 1878, par. 11 It requires cultivating opposite traits of character by helping the needy, clothing the naked, helping the cause of God, and working for time and eternity.Lt 3, 1878, par. 11 Gain-loving inclinations, scheming propensities to secure a bargain, and habits of years that make fraud second nature and harmonize desires with the enemy must be firmly resisted, for love of gain wars against the Spirit of Christ and cannot abide where love of truth abides.Lt 3, 1878, par. 11+1 Intense love of money and worldly possessions above Jesus becomes woven into every fiber of being and all-absorbing, bearing the person down with the worldly current with no moral power to resist, and it must be eradicated by strong, decided effort even though removal feels like plucking out the right eye or cutting off the right arm, because unless this love of mammon is overcome it will cost salvation.5T 340.1 Where love of the world has gained overpowering influence so that a person cannot do known Christian duty, escaping requires taking hold again and making another effort.Ms 16, 1868, par. 16

Covetous hoarding is idolatry and moral disease, as seen when pursuit of gain led to withholding money and hindering the Lord's work, with repentance beginning in recognizing the condition, surrendering to God, and repaying what was withheld.Lt 167, 1897, par. 23–27 Attachment to worldly business, enterprises and money endangers faith and salvation, and means must instead be placed where it can serve God's work rather than kept back through personal advantage and influence over others and their means.Lt 109, 1899, par. 12–15+1 Parents while of sound mind must themselves dispose of entrusted means with prayer and experienced godly counsel, remembering God's claims first.TCBMP 155.1 They must provide for afflicted or poor and faithful children who will use means wisely, and refuse to place abundance in hands of unbelieving children who already have abundance and serve the world merely because they are children, since property willed principally to children with little or nothing for God's cause frequently proves a curse, a source of temptation and an open door to many dangerous and hurtful lusts.TCBMP 155.1

Those held by love of money need the gospel to turn their eyes from vanity of material things to preciousness of enduring riches.6T 256.2–257.1+1 They need to learn the joy of giving and the blessedness of working together with God as coworkers with Him, instead of using wealth to indulge and glorify self while becoming insensible to claims of God and needs of fellow men amid want, misery, crime, disease and death.6T 256.2–257.1+1 The way out of inherited means strengthening a money-loving nature toward perdition as a spiritual curse is to seek God's transforming grace and conform the will to His.2T 240.1 Pursuit of earthly gain brings pain and ruin and leaves only perishable treasure, in contrast with lasting value of laboring for salvation of souls and heavenly riches.2T 335.2–3