Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 8 - Chapter 1 - Verse 24

Sanskrit:

श्रीभगवानुवाचब्रह्मन् यमनुगृह्णामि तद्विशो विधुनोम्यहम् ।यन्मद: पुरुष: स्तब्धो लोकं मां चावमन्यते ॥ २४ ॥

ITRANS:

śrī-bhagavān uvācabrahman yam anugṛhṇāmitad-viśo vidhunomy ahamyan-madaḥ puruṣaḥ stabdholokaṁ māṁ cāvamanyate

Translation:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Lord Brahmā, because of material opulence a foolish person becomes dull-witted and mad. Thus he has no respect for anyone within the three worlds and defies even My authority. To such a person I show special favor by first taking away all his possessions.

Purport:

A civilization that has become godless because of material advancement in opulence is extremely dangerous. Because of great opulence, a materialist becomes so proud that he has no regard for anyone and even refuses to accept the authority of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The result of such a mentality is certainly very dangerous. To show special favor, the Lord sometimes makes an example of someone like Bali Mahārāja, who was now bereft of all his possessions.