John Wesley advised what he practiced for avoiding the sins that accompany riches: Gain all you can, save all you can, and give all you can so that your trust is in God.

“For wherever true Christianity spreads, it must cause diligence and frugality, which, in the natural course of things, must beget riches! And riches naturally beget pride, love of the world, and every temper that is destructive of Christianity. Now, if there be no way to prevent this, Christianity is inconsistent with itself, and, of consequence, cannot stand, cannot continue long among any people; since, wherever it generally prevails, it saps its own foundation.
But is there no way to prevent this—to continue Christianity among a people? Allowing that diligence and frugality must produce riches, is there no means to hinder riches from destroying the religion of those that possess them? I can see only one possible way; find out another who can. Do you gain all you can, and save all you can? Then, you must, in the nature of things, grow rich. Then if you have any desire to escape the damnation of hell, give all you can; otherwise I can have no more hope of your salvation, than of that of Judas Iscariot.

I call God to record upon my soul, that I advise no more than I practice. I do, blessed be God, gain, and save, and give all I can. And so, I trust in God, I shall do, while the breath of God is in my nostrils. But what then? I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus my Lord!”

John Wesley in Sermon CXVI: Causes of the Inefficacy of Christianity delivered in Dublin, Ireland, 2 July 1789, and recorded in The Works of the Rev. John Wesley, A.M., Vol VII, Fourth Edition (London: John Mason, 1840) 277.

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

“Christ returns to the former doctrine, the object of which was to withdraw his disciples from covetousness. He had formerly said, that the heart of man is bound and fixed upon its treasure (Matt. 6:21); and he now gives warning, that the hearts of those who are devoted to riches are alienated from the Lord…

Where riches hold the dominion of the heart, God has lost his authority. True, it is not impossible that those who are rich shall serve God; but whoever gives himself up as a slave to riches must abandon the service of God: for covetousness makes us the slaves of the devil…

What is here said with a special reference to riches, may be properly extended to every other description of vice. As God pronounces everywhere such commendations of sincerity, and hates a double heart (1 Chron. 12:33; Ps. 12:2), all are deceived, who imagine that he will be satisfied with the half of their heart. All, indeed, confess in words, that, where the affection is not entire, there is no true worship of God.”

John Calvin in Commentary on harmony of the evangelist, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, trans. William Pringle (Calvin Translation Society, Edinburgh, 1845) 337-338.

“Many Christians have one issue that haunts them and never falls silent:  for some, it involves sexual identity; for others, a permanent battle against doubt. For me, the issue is money. It hangs over me, keeping me off balance, restless, uncomfortable, nervous.

I feel pulled in opposite directions over the money issue. Sometimes I want to sell all that I own, join a Christian commune, and live out my days in intentional poverty. At other times, I want to rid myself of guilt and enjoy the fruits of our nation’s prosperity. Mostly, I wish I did not have to think about money at all. But I must somehow come to terms with the Bible’s very strong statements about money.”

Philip Yancey in Money: Confronting the Power of a Modern Idol (Portland: Multnomah, 1985) 3.

“The man of pseudo faith will fight for his verbal creed but refuse flatly to allow himself to get into a predicament where his future must depend on that creed being true. He always provides himself with secondary ways of escape so he will have a way out if the roof caves in. What we need very badly these days is a company of Christians who are prepared to trust God as completely now as they known they must do at the last day.” (Cf. Psalm 49:13-20).

A.W. Tozer in The Root of the Righteous (Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications, 1955) 50.

“For followers of Jesus, the practice of simplicity develops an inward reality that results in an outward lifestyle. Simplicity is not just about economics. It includes a simpler lifestyle that gives freedom from being controlled by possessions, status, time, and energy. In words that children can understand, here is how I define this spiritual discipline. Simplicity is living a life of joyful unconcern from wanting more and more…

It is helpful to recognize that material clutter may lead to destructive spiritual clutter. The stress of time and energy spent on gaining or maintaining a standard of living that is desired and the stress and strain of credit card debt on relationships are contrary to marketing rhetoric on “the good life.” It is not true that the more we have, the greater will be our lives…

I find the practice of simplicity difficult but freeing. Difficult because I like gadgets and I like clothes. I like to stay involved in activities and have adventures. But the more belongings and activities I have, the more complicated my life becomes. The practice of simplicity is freeing because I have fewer items and activities to keep track of and more time to enjoy life and focus on relationships with people and with God.”

Vernie Schorr Love in Spiritual Disciplines for Children: A Guide to a Deeper Spiritual Life for You and Your Children (Lafayette, CO: Character Choice, 2012) 62-63

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

“Paul spoke of the loss of reward as a great and terrible loss. The fact that we’re still saved is a clarification, not a consolation…Receiving reward from Christ is unspeakable gain with eternal implications. Forfeiting reward is a terrible loss with equally eternal implications. How dare we say that being in heaven is all that matters to us, when so much else matters to God?

What we do in this life is of eternal importance. You and I will never have another chance to move the hand of God through prayer to heal the hurting soul, share Christ with one who can be saved from hell, care for the sick, give a cup of water to the thirsty, comfort the dying, invest money to help the helpless, rescue the unborn, further God’s kingdom, open our homes, and share our clothes and food with the poor and needy.”

Randy Alcorn in Money, Possessions, and Eternity (Tyndale House: Wheaton, 2003) 119-120.

“We become like what we worship. We conform our lives to what we believe will please our God, whether that is the living God of Jesus Christ or the god of commerce, the god of power, the god of pleasure, and the rest of society’s pantheon.

Jesus calls us from the worship
of the vain world’s golden store,
from each idol that would keep us,
saying, “Christian, love me more!”

David A. DeSilva in Sacramental Life: Spiritual Formation through the Book of Common Prayer (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2000) 154.

“Your purpose in life isn’t to make money. It isn’t to live a comfortable lifestyle, to prepare for your retirement, or even to provide well for your family. Believe it or not, you’re designed for something far better and much more exhilarating. If you limit your life’s purpose to acquiring wealth or living comfortably, then you’ll never have enough and you’ll never be satisfied…

The Bible offers a better way. In the wisdom of God, the Bible includes countless verses about money and wealth, and the futility of pursuing either…Beyond that, it tells us that we are going to be held accountable for how we manage what God has given us–specifically, our money and other resources. It tells us that we are to care for the poor, the widows, and orphans, and to help spread the hope-giving message of Jesus Christ. And it promises that there is great joy and contentment to be found in living with less, giving more, and seeking to serve others by using what God has given us.”

Will Davis Jr. in Enough: Finding More By Living With Less (Grand Rapids: Revell, 2012) 11, 13.

“The hope that Christian giving will lead to material prosperity (as divine compensation) derives from a selfish materialism that Scripture regularly rebukes (e.d., 1 Tim 6:9-10). This is not to deny the biblical promises that God rewards generosity (Prov. 11:25; Luke 6:38) but rather to emphasize that only unselfish giving is rewarded. The ironic teaching of Jesus is, essentially, “Expect nothing in return, and your reward will be great” (Luke 6:35; cf. 14:14).”

Mark Alan Powell, “Generosity” in Dictionary of Scripture and Ethics, gen. ed. Joel B. Green (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2011) 324.

“Who can outdo God in His generosity. If we poor humans give Him everything and surrender our whole being to His service? No, He is sure to stand by us, and with us, as everything in us will be His.”

Mother Teresa, in a letter dated October 19, 1947 in Come Be My Light ed. Brian Kolodiejchuk (New York: Doubleday, 2007) 87.