“They, then, who lost their worldly [goods] all in the sack of Rome, if they owned their possessions as they had been taught by the apostle [Paul], who himself was poor without, but rich within, that is to say, if they used the world as not using it [cf. 1 Corinthians 7:31]…
But as to those feebler spirits who, though they cannot be said to prefer earthly possessions to Christ, do yet cleave to them with somewhat immoderate attachment, they have discovered by the pain of losing these things how much they were sinning in loving them.
For their grief is of their own making; in the words of the apostle quoted above, “they have pierced themselves through with many sorrows” [1 Timothy 6:10]. For it was well that they who had so long despised these verbal admonitions should receive the teaching of experience. For when the apostle says, “They that will be rich fall into temptation,” and so on what he blames in riches is not the possession of them, but the desire of them [1 Timothy 6:9].
For elsewhere he says, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” [1 Timothy 6:17-19].
They, who were making such use of their property, have been consoled for light losses by great gains, and have had more pleasure in those possessions which they have securely laid past, by freely giving them away, than grief in those which they entirely lost by an anxious and selfish hoarding of them. For nothing could perish on earth save what they would be ashamed to carry away from earth.”
Augustine (354-430), bishop of Hippo in City of God, excerpt from 1.10 entitled: “That the saints lose nothing in losing temporal goods.”
Last night marked our first night in our townhouse. We are so excited about this new step in our journey on which we are realizing more about attachment and detachment through our downsizing experience. On this first morning here Augustine’s comments on “immoderate attachment” awaken us: God help use the things of this world but avoid sinning by loving them.