Quotes about Materialism

Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." The way of the world is to go about and grab everything in sight. The world makes material possessions — food, clothing, money, houses, cars — its objective. But in this new life, if you make the will of God your objective, God will add these things. That saves a lot of worry if you know that God is the One doing the adding.

If liberty is to be preserved against the materialistic paternalism of the modern state, there must be something more than courts and legal guarantees; freedom must be written not merely in the constitution but in the people's heart. And it can be written in the heart, we believe, only as a result of the redeeming work of Christ. Other means in the long run will fail.

Material betterment has gone hand in hand with spiritual decline.

For many men, the acquisition of wealth does not end their troubles, it only changes them.

It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.

By-ends represents the kind of man who has lifted himself up through craft and manipulation, loves all that is sophisticated and refined, and uses his religious affiliation to advance his own career. His earthy bank account is all that matters. He has no account in Heaven and no checkbook backed by true faith upon which to draw.

Contentment is not a popular concept. Our culture actually discourages the idea. People are continually bombarded with the message, "What you have isn't enough. You need more—a bigger house, a better car, a larger salary, whiter teeth, sweeter breath, nicer clothes . . ." The list is endless. But the truth is that possessing healthy contentment is essential to being able to withstand failure. —Failing Forward DECIDE TODAY THAT WHAT YOU HAVE IS ENOUGH.

Material handouts are a poor substitute for love and understanding. People don't need more things—they need more tenderness

With a beaming face celebrate the joyful day and rest not therein. For no one can take away his goods with him. Yea, no one returns again, who has gone hence.

Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds.

I talk about love, forgiveness, social justice; I rage against American materialism in the name of alturism, but have I even controlled my own heart? The overwhelming majority of time I spend thinking about myself, pleasing myself, reassuring myself, and when I am done there is nothing to spare for the needy. Six billion people live in this world, and I can only muster thoughts for one. Me.

When you build a city near no mountains and no ocean, you get materialism and traditional religion. People have too much time and lack inspiration.