Then [Jesus] said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15
“We have to be detached from all our belongings. Thus we will be able to use everything on earth in the way that accords best with the will of God. Our heart will be for Him only and for the good things of God that never fail. Detachment makes of life a delightful way of austerity and effectiveness.
A Christian should frequently ask Himself a series of questions: Does he or she remain ever-vigilant so as not to fall into a spirit of comfort, into a sort of self-satisfaction, which is in no way compatible with being a disciple of Christ? Does he or she try not to create superfluous needs? Do the things of earth bring him or her closer to or take him further away from God.
We always can and should be abstemious in our personal needs, tightening up on superfluous expenditure, not giving in to mere whims, overcoming the tendency to create false needs, and being generous in almsgiving.”
Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 3 (London: Scepter, 1990) 208.
As I lean into the idea of almsgiving, I learned a new word today. Maybe you are learning a new work do. Prior to typing this I did not know what the word ‘abstemious’ meant.
It’s the opposite of self-indulgent. It means that you aim at simple living and avoid false needs or thinking you need things you really don’t need to create margin for addressing real needs through almsgiving.
Sit quietly on this Saturday. Ask yourself the questions above again. Follow the leading of the Spirit. Ask yourself what steps you need to take to move toward abstemious living and generous almsgiving.