The desire that some of our brethren possess to earn means fast, leads them to engage in a new enterprise and invest means, but often their expectations of making money are not realized. They sink that which they could have spent in God's cause. There is an infatuation in these new enterprises. And notwithstanding these things have been acted over so many times, and they have before them the example of others who have made investments and have met with an utter failure, yet many are slow to learn. Satan allures them on, and makes them drunk with anticipated gains. When their hopes are blasted, they suffer many discouragements in consequence of their unwise adventures. If means is lost, the person looks upon it as a misfortune to himself— as his loss. But he must remember that it is the means of another which he is handling, that he is only a steward, and God is displeased with the unwise management of that means which could have been used to advance the cause of present truth. At the r…
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
The EGW passage describes the love of money leading to unwise decisions and sorrow, echoing the warning in 1 Timothy 6:10 about the dangers of covetousness.
"But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?"
The EGW passage warns against focusing on material gain at the expense of God's work, similar to the parable in Luke 12:20 about the rich fool who hoarded wealth but lost his life.
"For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them."
The EGW passage describes how the desire for quick wealth can lead to ruin, mirroring the idea in Proverbs 1:32 that the prosperity of fools will destroy them.