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Distracted And Delayed By Baggage

Greed Materialism Influence

Source: USA Today

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Neal Pollard | Date Posted: 2019-05-11

Scripture: Luke 12:15 ; 1 Timothy 6:9

Author: Neal Pollard
6

ILLUSTRATION

On May 7, 2019, in a USA Today article about the crashed Aeroflot plane that killed 41 of the passengers onboard, Bill McGee wrote: “Reports from people on the plane indicate the evacuation may have been slowed by passengers grabbing their bags. Videos show passengers taking their carry-on bags with them as they exited the plane.”

The AFA said in a statement. “We will never know if more lives could have been saved if the bags were left behind."

APPLICATION

In Luke 12:15, Jesus taught, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” The NASB translates the first part of the verse, saying, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed….”

Watching video footage of those passengers making an emergency exit with carry-ons in hand is a rather graphic illustration of Jesus’ point. Unfortunately, we do the same thing when we have the wrong priorities. 

Paul teaches that greed can be a “snare,” plunging men into “ruin and destruction” that pierces them “with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:9-10). It’s interesting that Paul’s inspired counsel is to “flee from these things” (v. 11).

Consider that an inordinate focus on material things not only hurts you, it also affects the people that come along behind you. That includes your children, grandchildren, and the other people who are influenced by your example. They see what you value most and what has your greatest attention and affection. 

Let’s be careful not to allow this world to cloud our judgment, making the things of this world seem more important than the souls of others. In reality, the stakes are even higher than an emergency exit from an airplane. 

A Rich Man Brings A Suitcase To Heaven

Materialism Heaven Humor

Source: Unknown

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2017-07-18

Scripture: Mark 10:21

Author: Unknown
28

ILLUSTRATION

There once was a rich man who was near death. He was very grieved because he had worked so hard for his money and he wanted to be able to take it with him to heaven. So he began to pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth with him.

An angel hears his plea and appears to him. "Sorry, but you can't take your wealth with you."

The man implores the angel to speak to God to see if He might bend the rules. The man continues to pray that his wealth could follow him. The angel reappears and informs the man that God has decided to allow him to take one suitcase with him. Overjoyed, the man gathers his largest suitcase and fills it with pure gold bars and places it beside his bed.

Soon afterward the man dies and shows up at the Gates of Heaven to greet St. Peter. St. Peter, seeing the suitcase says, "Hold on, you can't bring that in here!"

But, the man explains to St. Peter that he has permission and asks him to verify his story with the Lord. Sure enough, St. Peter checks and comes back saying, "You're right. You are allowed one suitcase, but I'm supposed to check its contents before letting it through."

St. Peter opens the suitcase to inspect the worldly items that the man found too precious to leave behind and exclaims, "You brought pavement?!!!"

APPLICATION

It's difficult for us to comprehend just how worthless the things we value in this life will be in heaven. This story puts the real value of our so-called "wealth" in perspective. Stop clinging to mere pavement! Use this life to accumulate those things that you can take with you, things that will matter in heaven.

"Jesus looked at him and loved him. 'One thing you lack,' he said. 'Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me'" (Mark 10:21).

Money Quotes (part 1)

Money Quotes Money Materialism

Source: Various

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2016-09-27

Author: Various
2

ILLUSTRATION

“Money doesn’t change men, it merely unmasks them. If a man is naturally selfish or arrogant or greedy, the money brings that out, that’s all.” [Henry Ford (1863 - 1947) was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and the sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production.]

“The Seven Social Sins are:
Wealth without work.
Pleasure without conscience.
Knowledge without character.
Commerce without morality.
Science without humanity.
Worship without sacrifice.
Politics without principle.” [Frederick Lewis Donaldson (1860-1953) was a Church of England clergyman and Christian socialist]


“Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” [Oprah Winfrey (1954 - ) is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist.]

“While money can't buy happiness, it certainly lets you choose your own form of misery.” [Groucho Marx (1890 -1977)  was an American comedian and film and television star.]

“What money “can” buy:
A bed but not sleep;
A computer but not a brain;
Food but not appetite;
Finer but not beauty;
A house but not a home;
Medicine but not health;
Luxuries but not culture;
Amusements but not happiness;
Acquaintance but not friends;
Obedience but not faithfulness;
Sex but not love.” [Unknown]

“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” [Epictetus (AD 55 – 135) was a Greek-speaking Stoic philosopher who was born a slave.]

“Class is an aura of confidence that is being sure without being cocky. Class has nothing to do with money. Class never runs scared. It is self-discipline and self-knowledge. It's the sure-footedness that comes with having proved you can meet life. ” [Ann Landers (1918 - 2002) was an American advice columnist and eventually a nationwide media celebrity.]

“Don't think money does everything or you are going to end up doing everything for money.” [Voltaire (1694 - 1778) was a French Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher.]

“It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it’s a depression when you lose your own.” [Harry Truman (1884 - 1972) was the 33rd President of the United States, an American politician of the Democratic Party.]

“Everyday is a bank account, and time is our currency. No one is rich, no one is poor, we've got 24 hours each.” [Christopher Rice (1978 - ) is an American bestselling fiction author.]

“Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.” [Attributed variously]

“Money is a great servant but a bad master.” [Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist, orator, and author. He served both as Attorney General and as Lord Chancellor of England.]

“Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?” [John Wesley (1703 – 1791) was an Anglican minister and theologian who, with his brother Charles and fellow cleric George Whitefield, is credited with the foundation of the evangelical movement known as Methodism.]

“I love money. I love everything about it. I bought some pretty good stuff. Got me a $300 pair of socks. Got a fur sink. An electric dog polisher. A gasoline powered turtleneck sweater. And, of course, I bought some dumb stuff, too.” [Steve Martin (1945 - ) is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician.]

“A man wants to earn money in order to be happy, and his whole effort and the best of a life are devoted to the earning of that money. Happiness is forgotten; the means are taken for the end.” [Albert Camus (1913- 1960) was a French-Algerian philosopher, author, and journalist who’s views contributed to the rise of the philosophy known as absurdism.]

“When someone steals another's clothes, we call them a thief. Should we not give the same name to one who could clothe the naked and does not? The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet belong to the one who has no shoes; the money which you hoard up belongs to the poor.” [Basil the Great (circa 329 – 379), was the Greek bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia, Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He was an influential theologian who supported the Nicene Creed later made a saint by the Catholic church.]

“Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich.” [Unknown]

“For money you can have everything it is said. No, that is not true. You can buy food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; soft beds, but not sleep; knowledge but not intelligence; glitter, but not comfort; fun, but not pleasure; acquaintances, but not friendship; servants, but not faithfulness; grey hair, but not honor; quiet days, but not peace. The shell of all things you can get for money. But not the kernel. That cannot be had for money.” [Arne Garborg (1851-1924) was a Norwegian writer.]

“Money is like manure; it's not worth a thing unless it's spread around encouraging young things to grow.” [Thornton Wilder (1897-1975) was an American playwright and novelist. He won three Pulitzer Prizes—for the novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey and for the two plays Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth.]

“The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it in your back pocket.’ [Will Rogers (1879 - 1935) was an American cowboy, vaudeville performer, humorist, newspaper columnist, social commentator, and stage and motion picture actor.]

“Get to know two things about a man. How he earns his money and how he spends it. You will then have the clue to his character. You will have a searchlight that shows up the inmost recesses of his soul. You know all you need to know about his standards, his motives, his driving desires, his real religion.”  [Robert J. McCracken was a Scottish-born American Professor of Systematic Theology.]

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not 
money, I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And 
though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, 
and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could 
remove mountains, and have not money, I am nothing. And though I 
bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to 
be burned, and have not money, it profiteth me nothing. Money 
suffereth long, and is kind; money envieth not; money vaunteth not 
itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave unseemly, seeketh not her 
own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in 
iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth 
all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. . . . And now 
abideth faith, hope, money, these three; but the greatest of these 
is money. — I Corinthians 13 (adapted) ” [George Orwell (1903- 1950) was an English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic.]

“For after all, what is there behind, except money? Money for the right kind of education, money for influential friends, money for leisure and peace of mind, money for trips to Italy. Money writes books, money sells them. Give me not righteousness, O lord, give me money, only money.” [George Orwell [George Orwell (1903- 1950) was an English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic.]

“We no longer live life. We consume it.” [Unknown]

“When you need to borrow money the Mob seems like a better deal I think. 'You don't pay me back I break both your legs.' Is that all? You won't take my house or wreck my credit rating? Fine where do I sign. Legs? Fine. You don't even have to sign anything.” [Craig Ferguson (1962 - ) is a Scottish-born American television host, stand-up comedian, writer, actor, director, producer and voice artist.]

Too many people spend money they earned..to buy things they don’t want..to impress people that they don’t like. [Will Rogers (1879 - 1935) was an American cowboy, vaudeville performer, humorist, newspaper columnist, social commentator, and stage and motion picture actor.]
Money often costs too much. [Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century.]

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. –Thomas Edison

A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore. [Yogi Berra (1925 - 2015) was an American professional baseball catcher, manager, and coach who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball, all but the last for the New York Yankees, who was known for he’s humorous “Yogisms.”]

 

APPLICATION

Many of the above quotes contain their own points of application. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Illustration Exchange or its staff of editors. Nor do they necessarily reflect the position of orthodox Christianity.

Money Quotes (part 2)

Money Quotes Money Materialism

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2016-09-27

Author: Various
2

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The God Substitute

Money Materialism Idolatry

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2015-12-12

Scripture: Deuteronomy 14:22

Author: James Stewart
18

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You Don't Look Overweight To Me

Gluttony Covet Materialism

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2015-11-10

Scripture: Hebrews 13:5

Author: John MacArthur
5

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Slave To The Lender

Materialism Money Debt

Contributed By: John Wilson | Date Posted: 2015-11-08

Scripture: Proverbs 22:7

Author: Earl Wilson
11

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Infected With Affluenza

Family (Values) Materialism Priorities

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2014-05-04

Scripture: 1 John 2:15

Author: Steve Farrar
5

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Suffering From Walleta Sciatica and Creditcarditis

Materialism Giving Spiritual Health

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2014-03-26

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:10

Author: Raymond McHenry
3

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The Disease of Possessions

Temptation Materialism Affluence

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2014-03-07

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:9

Author: Illustration Exchange
3

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