Ellen Chat Conversation

Ellen White taught that provided that in their efforts they do not forget God or violate His commandments (2SM 429.1). She viewed wealth itself as one of the "gifts of God" that, while beneficial, brings with it "its increase of responsibility, and its peculiar temptations" (CS 139.2). While the basic desire to accumulate property is not inherently evil, Ellen White warned that it often transforms into an "inordinate desire for wealth" that can become a . When the pursuit of money becomes the "central idea" of the mind, it has the power to "deaden every high and noble consideration" and make a person indifferent to the needs of others (3T 547.3). She observed that many people sacrifice their health, sleep, and "the comforts of life" to this single pursuit, which she described as a . To counter the natural tendency toward greed, Ellen White explained that God "has arranged the plan of salvation so that it begins and ends in benevolence" (3T 547.3). This system of giving serves as a "safeguard against this dreadful evil" of covetousness. She emphasized that if "benevolence grown with your riches," then money would be seen correctly as "a means by which you could do good" (3T 547.3). For practical application, Ellen White urged that the choice of a home or lifestyle should not be "controlled by the desire for wealth," but rather by what "will tend most to simplicity, purity, health, and real worth" (CCh 148.2). The pursuit of property becomes a "course of sin" only when it leads an individual to overtax their energies, violate the laws of health, or neglect their duty to God and their fellow man (2SM 429.1). In summary, the desire to acquire property is a natural part of human life that is not sinful in itself, but it must be strictly governed by spiritual principles and a spirit of benevolence to prevent it from becoming a destructive passion. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say about the dangers of "sudden and exorbitant gains" through speculation? • How does the "intense passion for money getting" affect a person's physical health? • What is the relationship between benevolence and protecting the soul from covetousness? --- 📚 **thousands of passages found** containing these search terms — [Explore in Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=desire+for+wealth)