Recently I received an article from a brilliant scholar and friend, Edwina Murphy, entitled, “Sell Your Possessions: Cyprian, Luke, and Wealth” (Colloquium 49/2 2017), so next we turn to Cyprian, bishop of Carthage (c. 200-258). When reading the article, to my amazement three quotes in a row referred to “abundance” in different ways. This Lord’s day, enjoy a trifecta of profound thoughts from Cyprian laced with Scripture and some brief commentary from me.
“Consider in the Gospel the widow that remembered the heavenly precepts, doing good even amidst the pressure and straits of poverty, casting two mites, which were all that she had, into the treasury. When the Lord observed and saw, regarding her work not for its abundance, but for its intention, and considering not how much, but from how much, she had given, He answered and said, “Truly I say unto you, that that widow has put more than all of them into the offerings of God. For all these have put into the offerings of God from what they had in abundance; but she from her lack has put in all the living that she had” [Luke 21:3-4]. Greatly blessed and glorious woman, who even before the day of judgement has merited to be praised by the voice of the judge!” De opere et eleemosynis 15 (CCSL 3A:64).
With the widow we must remember “the heavenly precepts” and do good despite poverty and pressure. Rest assured, Jesus sees when we do this (or don’t do it). Then notice the profound line by Cyprian! Jesus observes the widow and celebrates “not how much, but from how much, she had given.” He acknowledges her abundant intention and action!
“You heap up a patrimony which burdens you with its weight; and you do not remember what God answered to the rich man, who boasted with a foolish exultation of the abundance of his exuberant harvest: “You fool,” said he, “tonight your soul is required of you; then whose will be those things which you have prepared [Luke 12:20]?” Why do you watch in loneliness over your riches? Why for your punishment do you heap up the burden of your patrimony, that, in proportion as you are rich in this world, you may become poor to God?” Allusion to Luke 12:21 De opere et eleemosynis 13 (CCSL 3A:63).
Patrimony is property stockpiled for the next generation. The world calls it good financial planning, and many Christians echo that sentiment. Jesus, however, labels it foolishness! A biblical inheritance does not entail providing a pile of money to your progeny, but rather, it includes passing on deep faith, teaching children to work, and helping them have a place to live.
“So also God rebukes the rich fool, who thinks of his earthly wealth and boasts in the abundance of his over owing harvests, saying, “You fool, tonight your soul is required of you; then whose will be those things which you have prepared [Luke 12:20]?” The fool who was to die that very night was rejoicing in his stores, and the one to whom life was already failing, was thinking of the abundance of his food. But, on the other hand, the Lord tells us that he becomes perfect and complete who sells all his goods, and distributes them for the use of the poor, and so lays up for himself treasure in heaven.” Allusion to Matt 19:21. De dominica oratione 20(CCSL 3A:102–3).
Cyprian beckons wealthy believers to obey Jesus and choose the “perfect and complete” path which, as Edwina Murphy rightly notes, calls for “repentance and renunciation.” Share wealth with the needy. All of it! For years we took the imperfect and incomplete way. We never had enough because we accumulated the wrong thing. Stop rationalizing disobedience. Be rich toward God!