A golden image in the house!

(John Angell James, "The Christian Professor" 1837)

It is quite evident that covetousness is indeed the sin
of the church. In this wealthy age and country, there
is imminent peril of professing Christians forgetting
their high calling, and living only to get riches. We see
them toiling and panting in pursuit of the golden object
of ambition.

It is not the possession of wealth that we should dread;
but the inordinate desire, the dishonest means, the undue
love, and the covetous hoarding of it! Wealth justly
obtained, and piously spent, is a blessing--not a curse.

I am quite aware, that it is difficult to have money and
not love it. It is hard indeed to have a golden image
in the house, and not worship it!

Wealth often produces the pride of life--so opposite
to the humility and poverty of spirit, which is essential
to the nature of true religion.

Wealth often generates a worldly-mindedness, which
makes its possessor contented with seen and temporal
things, and disposes him to mind only earthly things.

Wealth often leads to a prevalent feeling of independence,
so unlike that habitual trust and reliance on God, which
the Scriptures require.

Wealth often originates, and keeps up, both the care and
perplexity of getting, and the anxiety of disposing; and
thus exhausts the vigor as well as time, upon worldly
objects--leaving the soul neglected, impoverished, and
defrauded.

Wealth is the green and flowery mount from which
many have slid down into the bottomless pit!

Yes, wealth has a tendency to do all this, in consequence
of the depravity of our hearts, and thus to cast stumbling
blocks in the path of salvation.

"But godliness with contentment is a great gain. For
 we brought nothing into the world, and we can take
 nothing out. But if we have food and clothing, we will
 be content with these. But those who want to be
 rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and
 harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and
 destruction. For the love of money is a root of all
 kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered
 away from the faith and pierced themselves with many
 pains. Now you, man of God, run from these things;
 but pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,
 endurance, and gentleness." (1 Timothy 6:6-11)