Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22
“Listen, my children: I brought you up in much sincerity and innocence, and reverence through the mercy of the Lord, who instilled righteousness in you in order that you may justified and sanctified from all perversity. Yet you do not want to cease from your wickedness.
Now listen to me and be at peace among yourselves, and be concerned for one another and assist one another; and do not partake of God’s creation in abundance by yourselves, but also share with those in need. For by overeating some people bring on themselves fleshly weaknesses and injure their flesh, while the flesh of those who do not have anything to eat is injured because they do not have enough food, and their bodies are wasting away.
This lack of community spirit is harmful to those of you who have, yet do not share with those in need. Look to the coming judgment. You, therefore, who have more than enough, seek out those who are hungry, until the tower is finished. For after the tower is finished, you may want to do good, but you will have not the chance. Beware, therefore, you who exult in your wealth, lest those in need groan, and their groaning rise up to the Lord, and you together with your good things be shut outside the door of the tower.
Now, therefore, I say to you who lead the church and occupy the seats of honor: do not be like the sorcerers. For the sorcerers carry their drugs in bottles, but your carry your drug and poison in the heart. You are calloused and do not want to cleanse your hearts and to mix your wisdom together in a clean heart, in order that you may receive mercy from the great King. Watch out, therefore, children, these divisions of yours deprive you of your life.
How is it that you desire to instruct God’s elect, while you yourselves have no instruction? Instruct one another, therefore, and have peace among yourselves, in order that I too may stand joyfully before the Father and give an account on behalf of all of you to your Lord.”
Shepherd of Hermas (c. late first or early to mid-second century) in Visions 3:9, trans. Michael W. Holmes in The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations (3rd ed.; Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), as recounted by Helen Rhee in Wealth and Poverty in Early Christianity (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2017) 2-3.
I am enjoying this book by Helen Rhee, which features the writings of 14 different early church writers. I plan to pull daily meditations from these ancient writings over the next two weeks. These Christian authors give us a glimpse of how the first followers of Christ championed obedience to the teachings of Jesus on handling wealth and riches.
Rhee adds this insightful comment that sums up the aim of the Shepherd of Hermas (xx): “The goal of these visions…is not to denounce wealth or the rich as such but the move the rich into concrete behaviors for the good of the community (and thus their own good).” The leaders of ancient and modern churches must avoid hypocrisy and model obedience in these matters!