Quotes About Worldliness Page 3
Malcolm Muggeridge speaks of his changing perspective:
"Now, the prospect of death overshadows all others. I am like a man on a sea voyage nearing his destination. When I embarked, I worried about having a cabin with a porthole, (and) whether I should be asked to sit at the captain's table, who were the more attractive and important passengers. All such considerations become pointless (because now) I shall soon be disembarking."
From the book: Things Past, 1979, p. 166
"The Book of Mormon lists the attitudes that God 'despiseth': The wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches (2 Nephi 9:42). What God despiseth is not wisdom, learning, or riches, but the attitude of him who is 'puffed up because of them.' The evil is in the attitude, which is the pride of self-satisfaction."
Dallin H. Oaks
"The greatest reward is not what we receive for our labor, but what we become by it."
John Ruskin
"Let God be first in our thoughts when we awake in the morning, and let our actions through each day reflect honor on ourselves, credit on the cause of God, and secure to us the confidence and good-will of all good and holy beings.
While we should be diligent and industrious, filling every moment of our time to some advantage and profit to ourselves and others, we should not suffer a covetous and grasping spirit to take possession of us.
It is lamentable to see the ignorance manifested by many of this people in that respect, for no man who possesses the wealth of wisdom would worship the wealth of mammon."
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol.10, p.3 - 4)
Don't have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends.
Russion Proverb
"...the most important thing about money and property is the attitude with which we view and manage them. If allowed to become an object of worship or priority, money and property can make us selfish and prideful, 'puffed up...with the vain things of the world' (Alma 31:27).
In contrast, if used for fulfilling our legal obligations and for paying our tithes and offerings, money can demonstrate integrity and develop unselfishness.
The spiritually enlightened use of property can help prepare us for the higher law of a celestial glory. 'Wherefore,' as Jacob taught, 'do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy' (2 Nephi 9:51)."
Elder Dallin H. Oaks - Book: "Pure in Heart," p. 121
"If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy."
"A century from today, these won't mean a thing: the house we lived in, the money we made, the clothes we wore, the kind of car we drove. But the world will be a better place...because our children were loved."
(Family Circle Cartoon, 1996)
"As you read the history of the pioneers, it becomes increasingly clear with every page that you read, that they endured adversity and hardship. They could stand persecution; they could bear up under abuse; they could recover from the infliction of all kinds of harmful hatreds.
That record is clear. The question before our generation is: Can we and our children endure prosperity and ease? I have not the time...to compare the two struggles. I sometimes wonder which is the harder."
Elder Adam S. Bennion, CR, April 1954, p. 97
"Be more concerned with what God thinks about you than what people think about you."
"Don't let good things crowd out what is ESSENTIAL."
Elder Richard G. Scott (April 1997 Gen. Conf.)
"Happiness consists not of having, but of being; not of possessing, but of enjoying. It is the warm glow of a heart at peace with itself."
William George Jordan, The Majesty of Calmness, 1900, p. 54
"Happiness is a state of being content or satisfied. But sometimes it's hard to be content and satisfied —to have enough. There will always be a newer watch, a more powerful computer, a fancier car.
But you can never get enough of what you don't need, because what you don't need never satisfies. We spend money we don't have to buy things we don't need to impress people we don't like who don't come over and get impressed anyway."
Mary Ellen Edmunds, BYU Speeches, 1995-96, p. 88
"Now I do not care how much wealth you pour into the laps of men, unless there is in their bosoms the Spirit of God, they are unhappy...It is so with all of us; unless we have the spirit of contentment in our hearts, we are miserable. ...If a man has all the wealth in creation, and has heaped upon him all the honours and powers that the world can give, his soul is discontented and miserable, unless he possesses the Spirit of Christ."
President George Albert Smith, JD 9:349
"One Hundred years from now it won't matter if you got that big break, or finally traded up to a Mercedes...It will greatly matter, one hundred years from now, that you made a commitment to Jesus Christ."
"Idolatry is among the most serious sins. There are unfortunately millions today who prostrate themselves before the images of gold and silver and wood and stone and clay. But the idolatry we are most concerned with here is the conscious worshipping of still other gods. Some are of metal and plush and chrome, of wood and stone and fabrics.
They are not in the image of God or of man, but are developed to give man comfort and enjoyment, to satisfy his wants, ambitions, passions, and desires. Some are in no physical form at all, but are intangible. Many seem to 'worship' on an elemental basis—they live to eat and drink.
Modern idols or false gods can take such forms as clothes, homes, businesses, machines, automobiles, pleasure boats, and numerous other material deflectors from the path of godhood. Intangible things make just as ready gods. Degrees and letters and titles can become idols. Many people build and furnish a home and buy the automobile first—then find they 'cannot afford' to pay tithing. Whom do they worship?
Young married couples who postpone parenthood until their degrees are attained might be shocked if their expressed preference were labeled idolatry. Many worship the hunt, the fishing trip, the vacation, the weekend picnics and outings.
Still another image men worship is that of power and prestige. Many will trample underfoot the spiritual and often the ethical values in their climb to success. These gods of power, wealth, and influence are most demanding and are quite as real as the golden calves of the children of Israel in the winderness."
Spencer W. Kimball
"A man who examines the saddle and bridle and not the animal itself when he is out to buy a horse is a fool; similarly, only an absolute fool values a man according to his clothes, or according to his position, which after all is only something we wear like clothing."
Seneca
"We think we need a larger home with a three-car garage and a recreational vehicle parked next to it. We long for designer clothes, extra TV sets (all with VCRs), the latest model computers, and the newest car.
Often these items are purchased with borrowed money without giving any thought to providing for our future needs. The result of all this instant gratification is overloaded bankruptcy courts and families that are far too preoccupied with their financial burdens"
L. Tom Perry - Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 45; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 35
The Bible says "A good name is more desirable than great riches." In other words, your self-worth is more important than your net-worth.
"This generation will be known as those who trash the treasures and treasure the trash."
Truman Madsen - Quotes in BYU Speeches 1994-95, p. 269