Any activity that is based upon covetousness is sin. A Christian should not desire to increase his own wealth by depriving someone else.

Jesus' Parable of the Treasure in Matthew 6:19-21 is designed to get us to evaluate the relative values of material wealth and 'treasures in heaven.'

The Parable of the Rich Fool illustrates that, when one has all the material possessions he could want, he may still not be rich toward God.

God has made it possible through His Spirit for us to be optimistic and happy even in a world that seems to be crumbling around us.

Prosperity is not always an emblem of God's approval. God will not prosper us if it would cause spiritual damage, insulating us from seeking His kingdom.

God does not measure prosperity by the ownership of physical possessions but with the depth of a person's relationship with Him.

In Proverbs 30:7-9, Agur asks God to cushion him from the extremes of poverty or excessive wealth, allowing himself to live a balanced life of contentment.

Laodiceans think of themselves as rich, while God sees them as poor. But Smyrnans see themselves as poor, yet God says they are rich! What are true riches?

Corruption in the courts is a fact of life. We should not be surprised by this curse, realizing that God is aware and is allowing it for a purpose.

Everyone is out to acquire as much as possible for himself. The tenth commandment, however, governs this proclivity of human nature, striking at man's heart.

Wealth will certainly damage our character if we permit it to control us. Riches cannot buy forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, or eternal life.

In the important things in life, money is powerless. Wealth cannot buy forgiveness, eternal life, or God's Spirit. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath.

The spending of money in an extremely unbalanced and selfish way is part of human nature. In our culture, we are becoming absorbed in extremism.

Prosperity gospel preachers twist verses out of context to convince people that God will give them anything. They fail to mention that God does not give His benefits to just anyone.

Everybody has the carnal habit of accumulating stuff, cluttering up both our physical surroundings, as well as the inner chambers of our minds.

Solomon provides these comparisons to indicate the choices we should make to live better lives in alignment with God, even in an 'nder the sun' world.

The eighth commandment seems so simple: You shall not steal. Yet, it seems that just about everyone on earth has his hand in someone else's pocket!

God desires far more for us than mere satisfaction: He wants to give us real contentment, a state that comes only through a relationship with Him.

Anxious care and foreboding are debilitating and faith-destroying. Meditating on what God has already done strengthens our faith and trust in God.

WHY are only the very few—women as well as men—successful in life? Just what is success? Here is the surprising answer to life's most difficult problem.

Fasting brings our heart into alignment with God. The very best offering we can present is a humble and contrite heart, put on the fast track through fasting.

God requires us to work and not deliberately seek welfare or food stamps, but He also does not want us to obsess on acquiring riches.

Because God is completely just, we have an obligation to be content with what He has given us, to allow Him to use us for whatever purpose He desires.

If we are untrustworthy with a paltry sum of money, we will be untrustworthy with the vast resources of God's creative power.

In the Bible, eating can be a symbol of fornication. Like Jacob and Christ, we must learn to curb our appetites, learning to distinguish holy from profane.

Wealth accumulated by honest work and diligence will be blessed, but hastily acquired by any kind of theft or dishonesty will be cursed.

When properly evaluated, there are no discrepancies in scripture; God is not the author of confusion. God does not enlighten us until we are mature enough.

'Affluenza' describes the bloated insensitivity caused by trying to keep up with the Joneses, the stress caused by doggedly pursuing the American Dream.

What God really wants is for us to see things from His point of view, making the right choices, striving to build character, developing into His image.

Compromise usually begins small and can grow to encompass once strongly held beliefs. The story of Solomon 'minor' sins illustrates how this process works.

Being poor in spirit is a foundational spiritual state for qualifying for God's Kingdom. Poor in spirit describes being acutely aware of one's dependency.

We are commissioned to be generous in good works, whether it consists of money, time, or talent. Conduct now lays up treasure for the future.

Laodiceans are enthusiastic about being rich, becoming wealthy, and needing nothing. Life is good. They are content. They are zealous for the wrong things.

The noble trait of self-sufficiency, long associated with the American spirit, has sadly been eclipsed by a spoiled brat, whiney, 'gimme' welfare mentality.

If church members are to grow in grace and knowledge and be zealous in producing fruit to God's glory, they need to have their priorities in the right place.

Coveting—lust—is a fountainhead of many other sins. Desiring things is not wrong, but desiring someone else's things promotes overtly sinful behavior.

The prince of the power of the air is responsible for influencing the zeitgeist (dominant mindset of the time), pulling us away from God and His law.

We must lay aside every weight, accept God's chastening, receive encouragement from those who have gone before, and get back into the spiritual race.

In God's plan, the development of uncompromising character requires struggle and sacrifice. Our victory requires continual drill, tests and development of discipline.

Jesus taught that all outward sin stems from inner inordinate desire. What we desire or lust after automatically becomes our idol.

Those who view religion as a life of gloom and deprivation are too short-sighted to realize that the world's entertainments do not satisfy the deepest need.

Wisdom can be defined as doing the right thing at the right time in the right way to the right measure. Wisdom is not given as a whole, but incrementally.

God works all the time. In fact, it is the first thing we see God doing in His Book. We must follow His example to become skilled in living as He does.

In the Parable of the Great Supper, Jesus exposes and corrects the ignorance of those who, in their pride, misjudge their true moral condition.

Our love for beauty must be coupled with love for righteousness and holiness. Our relationship with Christ must take central place in our lives, displacing all else.

Tithing requires faith and trust in God, who provides our ability to acquire wealth. Each member must make his own decision. Tithing is based on increase.

Any materialistic goal will decay and deteriorate, having a limited lifetime. Only spiritual treasures last forever. God demands undivided loyalty.

Clear vision lights the way spiritually. If the eye of the heart is aimed at spiritual treasure and the glory of God, it will remain singly focused.

Repentance involves incorporating God's values, alien to our human nature—ones that will unify us with God and with others who accept His value system.

Laodiceanism is the attitude that dominates the end time. It is a subtle form of worldliness that has infected the church, and Christ warns against it strongly.