SHOULD CHRISTIANS SEEK AFTER MATERIAL POSSESSIONS?

MATERIAL POSSESSIONS

PROVERBS 23:1-7 KJV
1    When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
2    and put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
3    Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
4    Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
5    Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings;
they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
6    Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
7    for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:

LUKE 12:15
     And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in
the abundance of the things he possesses."

1 TIMOTHY 6:5-11
5    useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that
godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
6    But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7    For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8    And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9    But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and
harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10   For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith
in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11   But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,
patience, gentleness.

1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19
17   Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain
riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
18   Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
19   storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on
eternal life.

JAMES 3:16
     For where envy and selfseeking exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there.

REVELATION 3:17-19
17   "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-- and do not
know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-
18   "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white
garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and
anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19   "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

PSALM 62:10
     ...If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them.

MATTHEW 6:19-21
19   "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures in earth, where moth and rust consume and where
thieves break in and steal,
20   but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
21   For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

MATTHEW 6:25-34
25   "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will
drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more
than clothing?
26   "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
27   "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28   "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they
neither toil nor spin;
29   "and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30   "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into
the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31   "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall
we wear?'
32   "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all
these things.
33   "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added
to you.
34   "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13
11   Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12   I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have
learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13   I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

HEBREWS 13:5
     Let your conduct be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have. For
He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

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