Saint John Chrysostom
Dreadful, truly dreadful is the love of money. It takes away our sight and stops up our hearing; it makes a man worse than a wild beast; it does not let him think of his conscience, nor of his friends, nor of his dealings with others, nor of the salvation of his own soul, but makes him forget everything at once; and if it takes anyone into its hands, then, like some tyrant, it makes him its slave. And in this bitter slavery the most dreadful thing is that the love of money gives delight in itself — so that the more men give themselves to this passion, the more the pleasure grows. This is precisely why this sickness is incurable, why this beast is untameable. The love of money turned Gehazi from a prophet's disciple into a leper; the love of money destroyed Ananias; the love of money made Judas a traitor; it also corrupted the rulers of the Jews, who took gifts and by this became partners with the enemies. The love of money has bred countless wars, has watered the roads with blood and the cities with mourning and tears. It has made friendly evenings unclean, has defiled tables and has filled the very food with lawlessness. This is why Paul called the love of money idolatry; but even by this he did not frighten us. Why then did the apostle give it this name? Many who possess riches do not use them, but hold them as something sacred and hand them on whole to their children and grandchildren, so that they do not even dare to touch them, as though they were dedicated to some god. Look: as a heathen guards his idol, so thou guardest thy gold with doors and bolts; instead of a church thou buildest it an ark and placest it in vessels of gold. What of it that thou dost not worship gold as the heathen worships his idol? And yet thou showest it honour in every way. The passion of the love of money is worse than a demon, and many serve it more than some serve idols. “The covetous... shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:10), says the apostle Paul; but even this does not frighten them. However, we are not now speaking of your giving away your possessions. I should wish it, but since this is beyond your strength, I shall not compel you. I only strive to persuade you not to desire what is another's and to give something out of your own to others. For there are many such people who are content with their own, who care for their neighbours and live by honest labour. Why does no zeal for them take hold of us, and why do we not strive to imitate them?
