To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Titus 1:15-16
“Let us cease from our sins; let us rest from our offences; let us wash away our stains; let us abandon the impure love of the flesh; let us flee far from covetousness and extortion; and from disgraceful gains, and the love of lucre. Let us first gather provisions for our souls for the way, the meat that will suffice us in the world to come: and let us apply ourselves to holy works.”
Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) in Commentary on St. Luke, volume 2, sermon CI (From the Syriac. MS.12,154) 384.
I’ve transitioned from a retreat center some distance from Alexandria to a simple, yet peaceful, Egyptian flat downtown by the sea. This photo is the stunning view from the kitchen window. I’m convinced the beauty of this seaside city helped the early fathers connect deeply with our Creator!
For Titus, whose assignment was to minister in Crete, which happens to be not far from my location on the Mediterranean, people have corrupted minds and consciences if they claim to know God but their actions send a different message.
What message do your actions send with regard to money?
Cyril explains that those who love money and getting more and more of it as compared to what other people have, reveal that they are afflicted with the sins of covetousness and extortion; whereas, those who deploy money find themselves gathering provisions for the world to come.
Which are you doing?
You can’t say both or somewhere in between. That’s like saying you can serve God and money. It’s inconsistent or in biblical terms, impure or corrupted. You only make one objective your aim. Our human tendency is to take and accumulate. Let me urge you to live by faith from beautiful Alexandria by the sea.
This life we are living, it’s only for a brief moment. Eternity is of incomparable length. Make your actions show you are living for the eternal kingdom. We do this not by accumulating money and things, but by applying ourselves to holy works.
What is at stake if we don’t walk this path?
Paul says that if we are not “pure,” which in antiquity refers to “consistent,” then we are “detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.” Resolve today to apply yourself to holy works, which is “set apart living for God” that dispenses His love wherever you go. You can do it as God will help you.