Here is the danger of riches to the avaricious man. The more he gains, the harder it is for him to be generous. To diminish his wealth is like parting with life. Rather than do this, he turns from the attractions of the immortal reward, in order to retain and increase his earthly possessions. He accumulates and hoards. Had he kept the commandments, his worldly possessions would not have been so great. How could he, while plotting and striving for self, love God with all his heart, and with all his mind, and with all his strength, and his neighbor as himself? Had he distributed to the necessities of the poor and blessed his fellow men with a portion of his means as their wants demanded, he would have been far happier and would have had greater heavenly treasure and less of earth upon which to place his affections. {4T 50.1}

Her er rigdommenes farer for det gerrige menneske. Jo mere det får, des sværere er det at være gavmild. At formindske sine rigdomme er det samme som at skille sig af med livet. I stedet for at gøre noget sådant, vender han sig fra den evige løns tiltrækningskraft, for at beholde og forøge sine jordiske rigdomme. Han samler sammen og hober op. Havde han holdt budene, ville hans verdslige besiddelser ikke have været så store. Hvordan kunne han, medens han lagde planer og kæmpede for selvet, elske Herren sin Gud af hele sit hjerte, af hele sin sjæl og af hele sit sind og sin næste som sig selv? Har han delt om sig til de fattiges nødvendigheder og velsignet sine medmennesker med en del af sine midler efter deres mangler, ville han have været langt lykkeligere og ville have haft langt større himmelske rigdomme og mindre af jordiske, hvilke hengivenhed gives til.