“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48
“Let us put into practice the supreme and first law of God who sends rain on the just and on the sinners and makes His sun rise upon all alike. To all the earth’s creatures He has spread out land in spacious expanse and springs and rivers and forests; to the winged species He has given air, and to the creatures of the deep, water, and the basic requisites for life to all without stint, subject to no power, restricted by no law, isolated by no boundaries.
On the contrary, He has set out the same necessities amply for all to share yet, for all that, in no way in short supply, thus both bestowing honor by the impartiality of His gift upon the equality of honor within the natural world and displaying the abundance of His own goodness. Yet men squirrel away gold and silver and quantities of soft and superfluous clothes and glittering jewels and similar items that bear the stamp of war and dissension and of the first act of rebellion, and then in their folly arch their brows and refuse to show compassion towards the unfortunate among their kinsmen. They are neither willing to help them with basic necessities out of their superfluity — what perversity! What stupidity!”
Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329-390) in Oration 14.25 in The Fathers of the Church: St. Gregory of Nazianzus (Washington D.C.: CUOA, 2003). Gregory of Nazianzus is the third of the Four Doctors of the Eastern Church that we explore on the topic of abundance. He’s also the second of the three Cappadocian Fathers.
What an expression! Gregory calls out those who “squirrel” away for themselves what God intends for enjoyment and sharing, like the rain and sunshine and everything else He supplies. Though culture says to do it, it represents a perversity of God’s design for all He supplies. To follow His instructions is to be “perfect” or consistent with His commands. Don’t exhibit “stupidity.” Enjoy and share “the abundance of His goodness.”
Today I fly to Dallas to speak at the CLA Outcomes Conference in multiple settings and to attend many sessions as a learner. If you are going too, I hope to see you there!