But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
“How could such a person not be a fool when for the sake of things that cannot profit him – ‘For a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things that he possesses’ (Luke 12:15) – he gives up what is most profitable of all? He fails to become a wise merchant, selling even necessities, so far as possible, and in this way adding to the capital of a truly bountiful and gainful form of commerce or husbandry – a husbandry, indeed, which even before the harvest time multiplies a hundredfold that which was sown, thus foreshowing that the profit to come and the harvest shortly to be reaped will be indescribable and unimaginable.
And the curious thing is that the smaller the storerooms the seed comes from the larger will the harvest be. Hence there is no justification in aspiring to become rich even for a good cause. The truth is that people are frightened of being poor because they have no faith in Him who promised to provide all things needful to those who seek the kingdom of God (cf. Matt. 6:33). It is this fear that spurs them, even when they are endowed with all things, and it prevents them from ever freeing themselves from this sickly and baneful desire. They go on amassing wealth, loading themselves with a worthless burden or, rather, enclosing themselves while still living in a most absurd kind of tomb.”
Gregory Palamas (1296-1359) was a monk of Mount Athos and later archbishop of Thessalonica in “To the Most Reverend Nun Xenia” in The Philokalia V4.305.
I am sitting in Manila while typing this. It will post when I am over the Pacific.
I marvel that after mining classic writings of the Christian faith, like The Philokalia, for 16.5 years and posting more than 6,000 Daily Meditations, I never cease to find gold. I never stop finding the most profound quotes of saints reflecting on Scripture. Please read this post again! It’s so good!
These discoveries happen because there is no better quest than seeking the Kingdom with saints through the centuries.
Today, Gregory writes Xenia saying that he can’t understand why, despite the explicit warning of Jesus, people fail to sow to reap a harvest that is both indescribable and unimaginable.
Instead they amass wealth and live in an absurd kind of tomb. If you have wealth on earth, that’s you! Stop doing it! And hear me pointedly, I concur with Gregory who explains why this happens.
The truth hurts: “people are frightened of being poor because they have no faith in Him who promised to provide all things needful to those who seek the kingdom of God.”
Don’t let your actions testify against you. I am not trying to rob you but help you.
And I will need your help in an ongoing way as this sabbatical continues to unleash many new kingdom-advancing ideas and opportunities.
Seriously, I just spent time in China and, among other efforts, had the privilege of leading three people to faith in Jesus Christ.
This will cost them everything but the gain will be indescribable and unimaginable. The 60+ workers I empowered may experience persecution or even martyrdom, but they thanked me.
They said that that the time they have will be exponentially more productive. I wept with my wife on FaceTime yesterday while trying to process my experiences on the trip.
I must conclude by saying that this “curious” statement struck me: “the smaller the storerooms the seed comes from the larger will the harvest be.”
I thank a few God for a few humble people who sent me to China following God’s leading. They did it from their limited resources. When they get to the kingdom, they will meet three people who made it there because they sent me.
And, in Jesus name, countless others through the ministries of those I served.