Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Proverbs 11:28
“Never be greedy, but always be generous — if not in money then in Spirit. Bede describes the lifesytle of Colman and His Community on Lindisfarne:
They owned no wealth apart from their livestock, since any money they received from the rich was at once given to the poor. They had no need to save money or provide accommodation in order to receive the rulers of the world, who only came to the church for the purpose of prayer and to hear the word of God.
King Oswy himself, whenever the opportunity allowed it, came with only five or six thanes [that is, fellow landowners], and went away after completing his prayers in the church. Even if it chanced that they had a meal there they were content with the simple daily fare of the brothers, and asked for nothing more.”
The Venerable Bede on Colman and His Community at Lindisfarne in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 672.
What would people say about your lifestyle and mine? Would they say were were never greedy and always generous?
The community rule that guided Colman and others at Lindisfarne focused on simple living, even when royalty visited. This is a good lesson for all of us. To treat the poor as Christ and to treat those with worldly status simply as brothers and sisters.
When we exhibit such a lifestyle, our actions speak louder than words and they show people a pathway for generosity in a greed-filled world.