Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

art thou distressed? Why dost thou harass thyself in thy efforts to shut up thy riches in clay
and bricks? ‘A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.’ 582 If thou admire riches
because of the honour that comes from them, bethink thee how very much more it tends
to thine honour that thou shouldst be called the father of innumerable children than that
thou shouldst possess innumerable staters in a purse. Thy wealth thou wilt leave behind
thee here, even though thou like it not. The honour won by thy good deeds thou shalt
convey with thee to the Master. Then all people standing round about thee in the presence
of the universal Judge shall hail thee as feeder and benefactor, and give thee all the names
that tell of loving kindness. Dost thou not see theatre-goers flinging away their wealth on
boxers and buffoons and beast-fighters, fellows whom it is disgusting even to see, for the
sake of the honour of a moment, and the cheers and clapping of the crowd? And art thou
a niggard in thy expenses, when thou art destined to attain glory so great? God will welcome
thee, angels will laud thee, mankind from the very beginning will call thee blessed. For thy
stewardship of these corruptible things thy reward shall be glory everlasting, a crown of
righteousness, the heavenly kingdom. Thou thinkest nothing of all this. Thy heart is so
fixed on the present that thou despisest what is waited for in hope. Come then; dispose of
thy wealth in various directions. ‘Be generous and liberal in thy expenditure on the poor.
Let it be said of thee, ‘He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth
for ever.’ 583 Do not press heavily on necessity and sell for great prices. Do not wait for a
famine before thou openest thy barns. ‘He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse
him.’ 584 Watch not for a time of want for gold’s sake—for public scarcity to promote thy
private profit. Drive not a huckster’s bargains out of the troubles of mankind. Make not
God’s wrathful visitation an opportunity for abundance. Wound not the sores of men
smitten by the scourge. Thou keepest thine eye on thy gold, and wilt not look at thy brother.
Thou knowest the marks on the money, and canst distinguish good from bad. Thou canst
not tell who is thy brother in the day of distress.”
The conclusion is 585 “‘Ah!’—it is said—‘words are all very fine: gold is finer.’ I make
the same impression as I do when I am preaching to libertines against their unchastity.
Their mistress is blamed, and the mere mention of her serves but to enkindle their passions.
How can I bring before your eyes the poor man’s sufferings that thou mayest know out of
what creep groanings thou art accumulating thy treasures, and of what high value will seem
to thee in the day of judgment the famous words, ‘Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungred and
582 Prov. ii. 1.
583 Ps. cxii. 9.
584 Prov. xi. 26.
585 § 8.
Homiletical.
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