3:5Colossians 3:5

Spoken to those risen with Christ and dead with their life hid with Him in God, the verse commands putting to death the earthly members of sexual immorality, impurity, uncontrolled passion, evil desire, and greed.Lt 32, 1907, par. 6–10+2 It declares covetousness to be idolatry because it gives created things, money, property, honor, or self the supreme place and service in the heart that belong to God alone.Ms 81, 1908, par. 27–31+2 For these things the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience, so the command is a plain warning to leave behind the former way of life and its anger, filthy speech, and lying.Lt 32, 1907, par. 6–10+2 The change is not by human strength alone but through dependence on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with constant watchfulness, prayer, self-examination, and bringing every passion into conformity to the Word.Lt 32, 1907, par. 6–10+4 Those in covenant with God thus bear fruits of righteousness in mercy, kindness, humility, forgiveness, and love, placing possessions at His service in cheerful giving to advance truth and help the needy.Ms 141, 1907, par. 8–14+4

The command is spoken to those risen with Christ, dead with their life hid with Christ in God, who seek the things above where Christ sits at the right hand of God and set affection on things above rather than earthly things, with the promise that when Christ who is their life appears they will appear with Him in glory.Lt 32, 1907, par. 6–10+4 It calls them to put to death earthly cravings and fierce burning passions that consume love and gentleness and kindness and Christian courtesy, namely sexual immorality, impurity, uncontrolled and disordered passion, evil desire, and greed which is idol worship.Ms 57, 1902, par. 1–3+4 These belong to the former way in which they once walked when living in them, and for these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience, so they must also put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication and speech, and lying, having put off the old man with his deeds and put on the new man renewed in knowledge after the image of the Creator where earthly distinctions disappear because Christ is all and in all, in order to represent the life of Christ.Lt 32, 1907, par. 6–10+4

It rests on the baptismal pledge to walk in newness of life, for burial in water symbolizes Christ's death and rising from the water represents His resurrection.Lt 32, 1907, par. 6–10+4 Those baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have taken their stand on the Lord's side and separated from the enemy, covenanting to come out from the world and serve God in truth, and heaven pledges power and grace to resist every temptation to dishonor God.Lt 32, 1907, par. 6–10+4 Those in covenant with God must not let fruits of the unregenerate heart appear in life, but a life hidden with Christ bears fruits of righteousness.Lt 225, 1905, par. 10–13+2 The command redirects heart, mind, affections, and intellect from the world toward God and toward the things of God.Ms 108, 1903, par. 12–13+3 This requires the transforming power of the grace of Christ affecting heart and character, ending the old sinful self-indulgent character, killing self and selfishness and changing life purposes, so that a new life of heavenly origin is lived out daily with abiding in Christ, forsaking all, refusing a divided heart controlled by earthly affections, loving God supremely with heart, soul, strength, and mind and neighbor as self, as those not their own but bought with precious blood to give willing service of heart, intellect, and strength.Ms 108, 1903, par. 12–13+3

The instruction belongs to the church to the end of time, and the warning is given because needed, applying to its workers, some of whom have given place to these evils, which are to be sternly and determinedly resisted and cleansed from the soul.Lt 332, 1907, par. 6–8+2 The whole third chapter of Colossians is to be read and studied, especially by young men and women preparing for ministry and for service, to first give self to the Lord for sanctification to His service.Lt 332, 1907, par. 6–8+2 Self must receive first attention through a godly example and well-ordered life that tells for truth more than eloquence, through trimming the lamp of the soul and replenishing it with the oil of the Spirit, through seeking from Christ grace and clearness of comprehension for successful work and labor for those for whom He gave His life, and through having Christ formed within as hope and strength.Ms 6a, 1902, par. 7–8+1 The command applies to everyone alike — parents and children, masters and servants, employers and employed — as ambassadors carrying truth in the time when the great work will be cut short in righteousness, calling for the whole heart consecrated so God can mold character after the divine likeness.Lt 4, 1910, par. 8

Mortify means to put to death the members upon the earth, namely fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness which is idolatry, understood as sexual immorality and sexual wrongdoing, impurity, uncontrolled and disordered passion and desire, evil lust and evil desire, and greed.Lt 32, 1907, par. 6–10+4 These are earthly desires and practices belonging to earthly life that must be killed, and greed is idolatry because it gives created things the place that belongs to God.Ms 57, 1902, par. 1–3+3 They belong to the old life and to instruction for those risen with Christ to live by heavenly values and prepare for life with Christ and the life to come.Ms 57, 1902, par. 1–3+2

Fierce burning earthly cravings and passions must be mortified because they consume love and gentleness and kindness and Christian courtesy.Ms 2, 1875, par. 9–11 The command also covers cherished lust and impurity, and disordered earthly desires that become ruling passions, including pride, vanity, love of display, and craving admiration that direct a person's life even at death, where costly jewels and fine clothes cannot give lasting value and such devotion to display is like worshiping heathen gods.Ms 2, 1875, par. 9–11+2 When truth sanctifies the heart, covetousness, worldliness, deceit, falsehood, and impurity are cleansed from it so that Christ may occupy the heart, and devotion to money, business, property, fame, or honor must not be loved more than God lest these things become idols.ST May 18, 1882+1

The same change requires putting off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication and filthy speech, and lying.Lt 32, 1907, par. 6–10+4 Having put off the old man with his deeds, believers put on the new man renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him, where earthly distinctions disappear because Christ is all and in all.Lt 32, 1907, par. 6–10+2 This putting off is to be complete, along with anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy speech, with the rigor Christ requires.Ms 30, 1902, par. 14+2

These sins belong to the former way of life in which believers once walked when living in them, and they must now be left behind by those dead to love of the world and to self-serving, in order to represent the life of Christ.Ms 81, 1908, par. 27–31+4 They belong to the old life and must be put off so believers live in newness of life, renewed in the image of their Creator.Ms 36, 1906, par. 8–11+2 The command is a plain warning against Satan's traps and calls for watchfulness and determined resistance to sin.Lt 225, 1905, par. 10–13+1

For these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience, upon disobedient people, so the verse is a straight, plain, unvarnished warning to keep from the trap Satan has placed for the unwary.Lt 32, 1907, par. 6–10+4 These practices bring God's wrath on the disobedient, and failure to put these members to death brings God's wrath on disobedience.Ms 57, 1902, par. 1–3+2 Covetousness is especially to be dreaded, more than the most contagious disease.Ms 30, 1902, par. 14

Conversion is not resting on a past profession but entering a present new state before God that transforms the entire being.Ms 108, 1903, par. 12–13+1 It kills self and selfishness, ending the old sinful self-indulgent character and changing life purposes, so a new life of heavenly origin is lived out daily.Ms 108, 1903, par. 12–13 It empties the heart and life of quick impatient temper and hate and envy and revenge and retaliation and pride and emulation and seeking supremacy, and produces God-likeness, with love, peace, joy, faith, gratitude, and hope springing up in the renewed soul.Ms 2, 1875, par. 9–11+1

Even a closely attached cherished sin must not be clung to but died to, and one abiding in Christ will not cling to it however closely attached it may be, showing a sinful world what Christ can do for those who live in Him.Ms 6, 1893, par. 8 Evil traits such as selfishness and a harsh unkind spirit must be cut away even when removing them is painful, for a harsh, unkind spirit wounds and destroys others.ST May 20, 1897+1 If these traits remain, they corrupt the whole person and make that person offensive to God, and hard-heartedness also leads to neglecting those who need help.ST May 20, 1897+1

A cherished sin grows stronger through repetition until it controls a person and subdues better powers, as seen when covetousness gained control, damaged character, and made one serve worldly interests while professing to serve God.Ms 2, 1875, par. 9–11+1 No heart stays pure without being constantly salted with divine grace, and no one remains converted without watching unto prayer and keeping the soul firmly united to Christ every moment.Ms 2, 1875, par. 9–11 The converted still face a tempting devil continually and a strong undercurrent pulling back to former sin and natural passions of the unrenewed heart, requiring forcing passage heavenward against sinful indulgence and rowing against wind and tide with both oars of faith and works.Ms 2, 1875, par. 9–11

Covetousness is idolatry because it gives created things the place that belongs to God.Ms 81, 1908, par. 27–31+3 An idol is not only a statue or stone but anything that takes possession of the heart and commands its service instead of the Holy Spirit.ST May 18, 1882+1 Treating money and possessions as objects of worship gives them the honor that belongs to God, and selfishly claiming for self what belongs to God and treating possessions entrusted by Him as one's own to use as one pleases is idol worship.RH Dec 10, 1901+1 The desire to accumulate wealth and the belief that possessions make a person valuable to God are a snare and a deception, calling for faithful use of what God has lent rather than treating earthly wealth as lasting or as a source of worth.RH Dec 10, 1901 Sin must be put away so that Christ may occupy the heart, and when truth sanctifies the heart covetousness, worldliness, deceit, falsehood, and impurity are cleansed from it.ST May 18, 1882

Idolatry includes more than physically bowing before an image.RH May 23, 1907+4 Selfish attachment to earthly goods and using them for self-gratification instead of God's purposes is worship of a false god, and devotion to money, business, property, fame, honor, distinction, personal glory, or self makes these things idols when they are loved more than God.RH May 23, 1907+3 Giving supreme affection to anything created takes the heart from God, who requires the heart's best affections and must reign supreme in mind and heart.ST May 18, 1882+2 Making money, houses, or land a person's god by giving them the devotion that belongs to God marks a false profession when people claim to believe in God but worship the possessions entrusted to them.Ms 50, 1901, par. 5–6+1 Covetousness is worship of mammon, loving worldly gain so much that conscience is sacrificed to obtain it, and professed Christians who are selfish, set their hearts on worldly things, and take pleasure in unrighteousness are idolaters even without worshiping graven images.2T 440.1+1 Ambitious plans that consume the mind and lead someone to betray truth or turn from God are forms of this covetousness, and fixing the mind on a course to exalt or distinguish self is covetousness and therefore idolatry.18MR 129.2+1

Love of money cannot coexist with keeping God's law.TCBMP 170.2+1 The heart follows its treasure, so affections and treasure belong on heavenly things and laid up in heaven.TCBMP 170.2+2 Loving earthly riches can become worship of mammon and displace love for God and the truth, and those whose selfish, covetous temperaments make them vulnerable to prosperity and earthly riches must overcome covetousness rather than worship wealth as an idol.1T 142.1–2+1 Indulging covetousness is directly forbidden with a warning as solemn and explicit and still binding as the prohibition to Achan against taking the spoils of Jericho, so committing covetousness is committing a similar sin in the face of that warning.PP 496.4–497.1+1 The verse belongs to the law's spiritual reach over inward desire, showing that desire for what belongs to another violates God's law at the level of the heart, not only through outward acts.ST Jan 9, 1912

Covetousness is a grave, soul-destroying sin especially offensive to God even when people overlook or excuse it, and its seriousness is not to be judged by human standards.4T 476.3+1 Cherishing covetousness among God's people means turning from the standard of righteousness and dishonoring God, and selfish, covetous principles corrupt judgment and offend God.Lt 94, 1899, par. 34–36+1 Allowing a covetous disposition to take possession develops traits recorded in heaven as idolatry.Ms 70, 1896, par. 16–19+2 Covetous men are classed with idolaters, adulterers, thieves, drunkards, revilers, extortioners, and mammon-worshipers, none of whom shall inherit the kingdom of God, and idolaters will not enter heaven.Ms 70, 1896, par. 16–19+2 Covetousness is the fruit of selfishness, ever opposed to Christian beneficence, revealing itself in neglect of duty and failure to use entrusted gifts to advance God's work.Ms 70, 1896, par. 16–19+1 Selfishness takes root in the heart and develops into covetousness, and selfishness and covetousness brought in is rebellion against God and steady departure from His will and way, against which faithful use of entrusted means helps guard.Ms 70, 1896, par. 16–19+2

Covetousness which is idolatry is selfishly claiming for self what belongs to God, treating possessions He has entrusted as one's own to use as one pleases, absorbing everything by just or unjust means, grasping greedily for every possible gain, pursuing accumulation, and believing wealth gives value before God, which is a snare and deception calling for faithful use of what God has lent rather than pride and self-indulgence.RH Dec 10, 1901+4 Such selfishness is worship of money and possessions, giving created things the homage that belongs to God even without literally bowing before them, excluding God and making money a god.ST Sep 11, 1901+3 A grasping desire for greater riches absorbs mind and heart, binds the affections to wealth, and turns the pursuit of more into worship of riches, while wealth and outward display cannot give a person value before God and pursuing them can cost the soul.3T 402.3–403.1+1

Making the pursuit of money the ruling passion gives earthly wealth God's place, makes money a person's god, and binds the heart to the world.3T 544.2+2 It is shown in gaining and keeping money at the expense of helping people in need or supporting God's work.3T 249.2+1 Selfish indulgence offends God, including refusing to share means with the hungry, naked, and homeless, living to self when entrusted with means, neglecting to impart help and sympathy to the needy and suffering, and indulging self in food and clothes while others suffer, which brings weighty responsibility.COL 261.3+1

Craving ever-higher wages and grasping for more pay is covetousness which is idolatry, dishonoring God, weakening spirituality, spreading doubt and unbelief, leading away from self-denial and from giving tithes and offerings, and steadily increasing as a plague in the soul since wages were increased.RH Jan 4, 1906+4 It must be purged with every root and branch cut away and roots dug out, not merely tops cut off, with willingness to ask and do as much work for smaller wages and to practice economy in all lines, requiring full transformation of mind and heart and purification of soul so as to clearly discern God's grace and love.RH Jan 4, 1906+2 Indulged selfishness develops into this covetousness, as workers wanting the highest wages for themselves with little appreciation for the work to be done let selfishness fill the heart and rob the Lord's treasury, and the work of equalizing wages reveals who follows the divine Pattern of self-denial and sacrifice.Ms 15, 1902, par. 7–8

Judas illustrates unchecked love of money growing until it ruled life, outweighed love for Jesus and the Saviour, enslaved the mind to greed, endangered the person to commit serious crimes, reject light, hide evil behind the Christian name, and sell integrity and loyalty for worldly gain.ST May 23, 1878+2 Balaam illustrates covetousness gaining control, damaging character, making him a time-server who shaped obedience to gain and honor and served worldly interests while professing to serve God, until Satan gained entire control and caused his ruin, with cherished sin growing stronger through repetition until it controls a person and subdues better powers.ST Nov 18, 1880+1 The tempter still uses worldly gain and honor to entice from God's service and strict integrity, suggesting over-conscientiousness hinders prosperity, so that one wrong step makes the next easier until avarice and desire for power make people presumptuous to do terrible things and entangle them in Satan's snare from which they seldom escape.PP 439.5

Fixing the mind on a course to exalt or distinguish self is covetousness and therefore idolatry, for an idol is not only a statue or stone but anything that takes possession of the heart and commands its service instead of the Holy Spirit.18MR 129.2+1 A heart taken over by desire for money, distinction, or personal glory serves an idol even without bowing to an image, and ambitious plans consuming the mind that betray truth or turn from God are forms of this covetousness.18MR 129.2+1 Pride, vanity, love of display, and craving admiration can become ruling passions directing a person's life even at death, where costly jewels and fine clothes cannot give lasting value and such devotion to display is like worshiping heathen gods.ST May 4, 1882

All covetousness is idolatry that will be brought into judgment, including avarice, dishonesty in trade, overreaching, every species of dishonesty, unjust dealing, betraying sacred trusts, grasping for control and taking what belongs to others through deceptive reasoning without regard for agreements or harm, absorbing everything by just or unjust means, and exploiting others by money and control of necessities to build fortunes, turning resources that could bless humanity into a curse.Lt 35a, 1895, par. 8–10+4 It includes unjustly requiring for self what is jealously withheld from others, dealing unjustly with God's children to make a showing for self while claiming it is for God's cause, which God hates, has controversy with, will not serve with, will not accept as offering, and will punish even in the least injustice, while imperiling if not ruining souls by the grasping spirit.Lt 35a, 1895, par. 8–10+1 In God's work selfish covetousness perverts right principles when those in trust treat people as machinery, bind freedom by methods and terms, harness and drive them, act as if power were unlimited, follow their own spirit, and rule over God's heritage, turning the work into crooked paths God will not tolerate and imperiling souls.17MR 196.1

Neglect of missionary needs is exposed as covetousness, as selfishness and covetousness keep members from recognizing unreached fields, selfishly keeping money from God's work and spending it on personal pleasure instead of supporting missionary work, withholding help from a needy work while seeking personal advantage and discouraging those who do duty, and failing to practice self-denial that would free resources by giving up needless spending on clothing, homes, furniture, food, and drink.Ms 35, 1893, par. 27–30+3 Putting temporal interests and pleasures ahead of meeting with fellow believers shows covetous idolatry even under Christian profession, giving temporal things such priority that they displace devotion to God and make them idols.ST Feb 3, 1887+1 Covetousness with pride, passion, dissension, self-esteem, and selfishness is out of place in God's sanctuary where worldly thoughts should be left behind with reverence, and it leads to choosing idleness instead of helping bear others' burdens.Ms 23, 1886, par. 15–16+1

Covetousness and love of the world endanger both those with much and those with little: those with means are constantly in danger and accountable for all entrusted to them, while those with little are frequently self-caring and self-interested, failing to do what is in their power and what is required, and letting opportunities to do good pass while caring only for self.2T 229.2 Covetousness is directly forbidden as solemnly as Achan was forbidden to take Jericho's spoils, and it can lead to hiding unlawful gains, neglecting charity, oppressing the poor, robbing God in tithes and offerings, damaging families, stirring envy and hatred, hindering the gospel, and sacrificing conscience, integrity, and hope of heaven for wealth, even while professing faith.ST Sep 1, 1909 Penurious covetousness must not be humored or indulged, for it eats out the vitals, makes character objectionable, destroys spiritual discernment so righteous and rebellious and sacred and common stand on the same level, and proves the person has never been truly converted in the transformation where old things pass away, hated and loved things are exchanged, and all things become new.Lt 1, 1870, par. 19–20

Professed obedience to God's law is contradicted by selfish greed to which a person may be blind while God sees heart and motives, where self-interest overcomes mercy and love for God, exposes a person as not genuinely Christian, weakens Christianity, and causes unbelievers to despise religion.3T 513.2+1 Selfishness takes root in the heart and develops into covetousness, gives Satan victory, puts Satan's rule between people and God, turns entrusted talents from serving God to building Satan's kingdom so Satan rather than God is worshiped, and cannot grow stronger without great loss of souls to Christ.Lt 192, 1903, par. 32+4 Recognizing one's own covetousness should humble before God rather than lead to accusing fellow believers, and departing from it includes hating meanness, dishonesty, and selfishness, confessing and forsaking faults, and refusing to excuse self or criticize others.Lt 17, 1897, par. 17–19+1

Mortifying what is earthly is not accomplished by human strength alone but through dependence on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who pledge power, grace, and guidance for the Christian conflict so that believers can stand as victors when tempted to a course that would deny Christ.Lt 32, 1907, par. 6–10+3 Those baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have taken their stand on the Lord's side, separated from the enemy, and pledged themselves to serve God and walk in newness of life, having risen from the water representing Christ's resurrection, being dead with life hid with Christ in God and seeking things above where Christ sits at the right hand of God.Lt 32, 1907, par. 6–10+3 They are therefore to put to death fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness which is idolatry, and also to put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication and lying, having put off the old man with his deeds and put on the new man renewed in knowledge after the image of the Creator, in order to represent the life of Christ and to appear with Him in glory when He who is their life appears.Lt 32, 1907, par. 6–10+1 These are straight, plain, unvarnished words of warning to keep from the trap Satan has placed for the unwary, for the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience for these things in which believers once walked, calling all who desire to be like Christ to pray in faith and watch unto prayer and believing to sing praise and thanksgiving.Lt 32, 1907, par. 6–10+1

Victory over the passions of the earthly nature comes only in the strength Christ imparts, and those who gain it are to teach others also how to wrestle with those passions.STMMW 13.1+2 The shortness of time makes this urgent, calling for energy, personal religion with repentance, faith and love, solemn impressions of truth in every family and every church, and a general awakening.CH 550.2+1 Christ in the heart puts self-love to death, rather than trusting limited abilities and merits for salvation which fails and brings eternal loss, and the Holy Spirit breaks down and expels self-love and pride, cleansing the soul so Christ can dwell there and bring victory.Ms 22, 1889, par. 57–58

The light of heaven shows which passions must be mortified, and the work requires constant watchfulness and unwearied prayer for the help of the Holy Spirit, with use of all the help and light God has given.STMMW 13.1+2 No heart stays pure without being constantly salted with divine grace, and no one remains converted without watching unto prayer and keeping the soul firmly united to Christ every moment against a tempting devil continually and a strong undercurrent pulling back to former sin and the natural passions of the unrenewed heart.Ms 2, 1875, par. 9–11 This means forcing passage heavenward against sinful indulgence and rowing against wind and tide with both oars of faith and works, putting all powers to work for the Saviour who left majesty and riches and gave His life for rebellious man out of infinite love, with determined resistance to sin and living in newness of life renewed in the image of the Creator.Ms 2, 1875, par. 9–11+1

Believers must search the heart as with a lighted candle for any cherished sin left unrepented and unconfessed, examine self, confess and forsake it, and purify the soul by obeying the truth.Lt 156, 1901, par. 19–21+1 Every passion is to be brought into conformity to the Word of God through self-control instead of fitting religion to the passions.Lt 87, 1901, par. 9–11 They must allow no corrupt talk to come from the mouth and must rise above flesh and blood that cannot inherit the kingdom of God.Lt 87, 1901, par. 9–11 They are to resist the devil in association with others and strive in word and deed for the high standard of perfection and wisdom unto righteousness, lest unrestrained human nature and self-love break all barriers and make a person the enemy's agent to ruin souls.Lt 87, 1901, par. 9–11

Instead of selfish grasping, the command requires standing in God, doing His will, keeping the ways of the Lord, doing justice and judgment, walking humbly and softly before God, and receiving new hearts and characters under God's control, for the Lord God is ruler of the world and of His own subjects.Lt 35a, 1895, par. 8–10

Those in covenant with God must not let the fruits of the unregenerate heart appear in the life, for those who have died to the old life and are risen with Christ are to put sinful desires and practices to death.Ms 141, 1907, par. 8–14+1 Sexual immorality, impurity, uncontrolled passion, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatry belong to earthly life and must no longer be lived by those pledged to serve Christ.Ms 141, 1907, par. 8–14+1 Instead a life hidden with Christ bears the fruits of righteousness and shows through conduct that its possessors are dead to sin.Ms 141, 1907, par. 8–14+1

Leaving former conduct behind means leaving anger, malice, harmful speech and other former ways and living instead with mercy, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, love, and thankfulness.AA 477.1 Obedience to Christ roots covetousness, envy, and love of the world out of the person, while God's law written in the heart and soul brings mind and will into obedience and subjection to Christ and is shown in a holy, consecrated life.3T 201.2+1 Such a life convicts the world, and it makes it pleasure to deal justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before God.TBC1872 57.2

Abiding in Christ requires forsaking all and refusing a divided heart controlled by earthly affections, loving God supremely with heart, soul, strength, and mind and neighbor as self, which is the whole duty of man.Ms 75, 1895, par. 5 Believers are not their own but are bought with the precious blood of the Son of God and must give willing service of heart, intellect, and strength.Ms 75, 1895, par. 5 The new life that comes through conversion and communion with God produces God-likeness, with love, peace, joy, faith, gratitude, and hope springing up in the renewed soul.Ms 75, 1895, par. 5

Self must receive first attention through giving self to the Lord for sanctification to His service, with a godly example and well-ordered life that tells for the truth more than eloquence alone.Ms 6a, 1902, par. 7–8+1 This means trimming the lamp of the soul and replenishing it with the oil of the Spirit, and seeking from Christ the grace and clearness of comprehension needed for successful work.Ms 6a, 1902, par. 7–8+1 It means learning from Him what it means to labor for those for whom He gave His life, and having Christ formed within as the hope and strength of the life.RH Aug 19, 1902

The warning is given because it is needed and applies to the church to the end of time, including its workers, some of whom have given place to impurity, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatry.Lt 332, 1907, par. 6–8 These wrongs are to be sternly and determinedly resisted and cleansed from the soul.Lt 332, 1907, par. 6–8 Every root and branch of covetousness must be cut away, not merely the tops cut off but the roots dug out, as seen in coveting higher and still higher wages among those serving in religious institutions and ministry.Ms 142, 1903, par. 95–97+1

Purging covetousness calls for willingness to ask and do as much work for smaller wages and to practice economy in all lines.Ms 142, 1903, par. 95–97 The sooner it is purged the sooner there will be clear discernment of the great grace and amazing love of God.Ms 142, 1903, par. 95–97 Workers who want the highest wages for themselves, with little appreciation for the work to be done in the world, let selfishness fill the heart and rob the treasury, while those made laborers together with God must follow His example of self-denial and sacrifice, and the work of equalizing wages will reveal who is following the divine Pattern.Ms 15, 1902, par. 7–8

Overcoming selfish covetousness means placing possessions at God's service and giving cheerfully to advance the cause of truth and help people in need, and this lays up treasure in heaven.1T 142.1–2 Love of mammon and the world can overcome love of God and truth, so those whose selfish, covetous temperaments make them vulnerable to prosperity and earthly riches must overcome covetousness rather than worship wealth as an idol.SG4 185.2 Those who have Christ abiding in the heart put away all covetousness, including avarice, dishonesty in trade, overreaching, and every species of dishonesty, as part of practical godliness marked by industry, frugality, economy, and gathering up the fragments that nothing be lost.Ms 13, 1896, par. 6–8+1 They are made new men in whom sin no longer reigns in the mortal body, and they manifest kindness, forbearance, and generosity, confessing that Christ, the hope of glory, is formed within.Ms 13, 1896, par. 6–8+1

Rightly understanding stewardship and the parable of the talents restrains covetousness, while practical benevolence turns selfish worshipers of wealth and mammon into faithful workers and co-workers with Christ for the salvation of others.3T 387.2+2 Treating temporal means entrusted by God as one's own to use as one pleases is covetous worship of mammon, countered by faithful use of those means in self-denial and sacrifice.ST Nov 25, 1886 Selfishness with entrusted means gives victory to the adversary and cannot grow stronger without great loss of souls, while generously returning the talents entrusted helps accomplish God's work of restoring His moral image in humanity.Ms 40, 1901, par. 9+1

A Christian life will show not a vestige of avarice nor a sign of greed and will not be guilty of one dishonest or fraudulent act, for the pursuit of gain to be rich places its pursuers in terrible danger.RH Sep 2, 1902+1 The mind must be kept free from selfishness and covetousness so that grace can rule within.Lt 117, 1896, par. 5–7 Those dead and risen with Christ into newness of life put off the old man with his deeds, pray in faith and watch unto prayer, and believing sing praise and thanksgiving.Lt 225, 1905, par. 10–13

In places solemnly dedicated to God as His instrumentalities to preserve the knowledge of His honor and glory so that His name is feared, such as the publishing house which belongs to the Lord and where His work is done, men are to walk uprightly divested of selfishness and covetousness.Ms 29, 1895, par. 8 Worldliness and covetousness can prevail through the adversary's work, lead people to forget God, and help bring about the making void of God's law.Ms 17, 1906, par. 2