SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE
Share what you have, lest you lose what you
have. Spend what you possess on the needs of others in order to keep what
you possess. Do not cling to what you own, lest it be taken away from
you.
Do
not hoard your treasures, lest they rot and become worthless. Entrust all
your wealth to God. Because then it is protected against all who want to
steal or destroy it.
Do
you understand what these injunctions mean? Or do they sound like nonsense
to you? To the person without faith, they mean nothing. But to the person
with faith, they make perfect sense.
Faith
tells us that God alone can supply the material things on which we depend.
He gives some people more than they need, not that they can enjoy great
luxury, but to make them stewards of his bounty on behalf of orphans, the
sick, and the crippled.
If
they are bad stewards, keeping this bounty to themselves, they will become
poor spiritually; and their hearts will be filled with misery. If they are
good stewards, they will become spiritually rich and their hearts will be
filled with joy.
St.
John Chrysostom
(updated 07-02-02)
|