On Wealth and Poverty (Popular Patristics Series)
Overview
The sermons of St. John Chrysostom are noted as classical commentaries on the Christian life. Knowing well the realities of life in the world, the temptations of rich and poor alike, this great orator—“the golden-mouthed”—addresses the questions of wealth and poverty in the lives of people of his day. And yet, as the modern reader is confronted with his words, it becomes apparent that he too is being addressed; Chrysostom’s words are words proclaiming the truth of the gospel to all people of all times. The message of the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31) is brought home to every person in these six sermons of Chrysostom with clarity, insight into the human dilemma, compassion, and judgment.
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- Breathes new life into the idea of wealth and poverty by going back to the basics
- Delves into the effect that wealth and poverty have on our spiritual lives
- Examines ideas set forth in the early church and how they still apply
Top Highlights
“Who is it? Only Luke. You must also know this, that all four evangelists reported some of Christ’s savings, but each of them individually chose others to report. Why is this so? To make us read the other gospels, and to make us realize how remarkable their agreement is. For if all of them told everything, we would not pay careful attention to all of them, because one would be enough to teach us everything. But if everything they tell were different, we would not see their remarkable agreement. For this reason all of them wrote many things in common but each also chose some things to tell individually.” (Pages 20–21)
“Moses says, when you have eaten and drunk, ‘take heed to yourself, that you forget not the Lord your God.’10 In this way luxury often leads to forgetfulness. As for you, my beloved, if you sit at table, remember that from the table you must go to prayer. Fill your belly so moderately that you may not become too heavy to bend your knees and call upon your God.” (Page 27)
“I beg you, remember this without fail, that not to share our own wealth with the poor is theft from the poor and deprivation of their means of life; we do not possess our own wealth but theirs. If we have this attitude, we will certainly offer our money; and by nourishing Christ in poverty here and laying up great profit hereafter, we will be able to attain the good things which are to come, by the grace and kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom (be glory, honor, and might,) to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.” (Page 55)
- Title: On Wealth and Poverty
- Author: St. John Chrysostom
- Translator: Catherine P. Roth
- Publisher: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press
- Publication Date: 1984
- Pages: 140
- Christian Group: Orthodox
- Resource Type: Ancient Texts
- Topic: Christianity