Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Matthew 19:21
“A blind love of one’s own property has deceived many; nor could they be prepared for, or at ease in, departing when their wealth fettered them like a chain. Those were the chains to them that remained — those were the bonds by which both virtue was retarded, and faith burdened, and the spirit bound, and the soul hindered; so that they who were involved in earthly things might become a booty and food for the serpent, which, according to God’s sentence, feeds upon earth …
If they laid up treasure in heaven, they would not now have a domestic enemy and assailant. Heart and mind and feeling would be in heaven, if the treasure were in heaven; nor could he be overcome by the world who had nothing in the world whereby he could be overcome. He would follow the Lord loosed and free, as did the apostles, and many in the times of the apostles, and many who forsook both their means and their relatives, and clave to Christ with undivided ties.
But how can they follow Christ, who are held back by the chain of their wealth? Or how can they seek heaven, and climb to sublime and lofty heights, who are weighed down by earthly desires? They think that they possess, when they are rather possessed; as slaves of their profit, and not lords with respect to their own money, but rather the bond-slaves of their money.”
Cyprian (c. 200-258) served as bishop of Carthage and was a prominent Christian writer. This excerpt comes from Treatise 3 “On The Lapsed” 11-12.
I am really enjoying this exploration of providence and generosity in the early church fathers as a starting point for considering how saints through church history commented on these ideas. I hope you are too. I must honor Peter and Edwina Murphy today. Peter is my mate (dear friend) from Down Under (Australia). I am thinking of them today as Edwina did her PhD on Cyprian, and Peter supported her through the research journey.
Cyprian was downright prolific! Consider his profound insights regarding those who in the words of Jesus are not “complete” because their riches are stored up in the wrong place. Having them stored up here is like having a “domestic enemy and assailant” which possesses those who think they can hold on to possessions. They are are “slaves of their profit” who are not “loosed and free” but “weighed down” by the things of this earth and unable to “seek heaven” as a result.
Yesterday was eventful. It took over 12 hours to get to Chicago due to canceled flights from the winter storm in Denver. Today and tomorrow I lead a “Faith and Finances” two-day retreat for Northern Seminary’s Bellevue Scholars (and many will be joined by their spouses). Pray for me and for them. Specifically, if riches are hindering them in any way from seeking heaven, pray that the Holy Spirit will loose and free them from any strongholds that riches have in their lives and help them become “complete” disciples.