1. Lessons from Sudama

    An ordinary man who is very poor and prays to the Lord for benediction in material opulence, and who somehow or other becomes richer in material opulence, immediately forgets his obligation to the Lord. Therefore, the Lord does not offer opulences to His devotee unless the devotee is thoroughly tested. Rather, if a neophyte devotee serves the Lord very sincerely and at the same time wants material opulence, the Lord keeps him from obtaining it.

    (From Srila Prabhupada’s “Krsna” book, ch. 81: The Brahmana Sudama Blessed by Lord Krsna)

    [NB Sudama Brahmana talked about neophyte devotees “who lack spiritual insight” (Bhagavatam 10.81.37) and whom the Personality of Godhead has to protect from the danger of too much material opulence.]