Богатство

If you have wealth, do not think highly of yourself, because you have not yet gotten rid of dangers and evil intentions, and the enjoyment of wealth is fragile, for a change can happen very quickly and unexpectedly. If you have wealth, then lay up for yourself treasures in heaven through good works. And if you put off taking care of it until death comes, then know that the Angels often act hastily, and you will leave your wealth to whomever you do not want. The more pleasant the temporary, the more it increases the disaster. Just as the thrifty, having lost one or two drachmas 8, lament, wounded by covetousness, and the rich man, not having received his share of a small vineyard and a small plot of land suitable for cultivation, laments, unable to bear the loss - so the rich are also haunted by sorrow, reminding them of separation from wealth... Those who love earthly things spend their entire lives in vain hope. And the greater the abundance of wealth, the more it increases the fear of death, for the memory of death, living inside them, causes grief depending on the sensitivity of each. But (they mourn) not for the improvement of their chastity and prudence, truthfulness and courage, not for the arousal of thoughts about Gehenna and about the justice of God - no, they, not knowing how to help themselves, cry about their wealth and say: “Who, after our death, will own such an estate. After all, it is pleasant for kings to know who will rule the kingdom after them! Who will prevail over this gold and silver? Who will then use so many golden things? Who will inherit gold-woven and silk clothes, colorful and expensive bedspreads? Who will ride the golden-bridled and chosen horses? Who will be accompanied when going out by many servants gathered from different nations? Who will live in the towers and dining rooms, which I decorated with such care with marble, in which the floor is lined with multi-colored stones and the ceiling is gilded? For whom will the bakers and butlers work after this? To whom will the eunuchs serve? Who will recline on silver-plated beds, the decorations for which were exported from India? Who will receive the fruits, and the aged wine, and the first-fruits of my gardens? Who will get the necklaces and gold belts? Who will be the owner of the armories, chariots and horses trained for the road and military formation? Who will the house servants call their master? Who will anoint himself with the scent of ointments? Who will get the dogs, the hunters, and the birds that serve in the hunt? To whom will my shepherds bring the firstfruits? Who will collect taxes? And when a person, carried away by thoughts in different directions, does not find a solution, after many sighs he returns again to caring for the house, without taking on the trouble of preparing treasure in heaven. When everything he desires comes to an end - the contentment of fruits, and the abundance of income, and the fertility of livestock, and a noble rank, and valiant deeds in the war with enemies - then the revived thought of death will revolt the heart. And if the limbs are bent by extreme old age and can no longer serve indecent and forbidden pleasures, then life itself becomes disgusting to him. If someone has wealth in his hands and prosperity, then he is not his sovereign master, but only a steward, for he received it from another, and after him it will again be inherited by another at the command of the Creator. Therefore, one must confess the mercy of the Giver. If the saints inherit the Kingdom of Heaven after many sorrows, then do we really hope to receive it, despite lawlessness, in peace and luxury, burdened with the burden of worldly pursuits? Is this possible? Whoever carries a burden along a very narrow and cramped path, it is impossible for him to pass, because the crampedness prevents him. Likewise, one who is burdened with worldly pursuits makes it difficult for himself to achieve the Kingdom of Heaven. And the Lord, explaining the difficulty of salvation to those who are covetous and showing us perfect generosity, said: How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the Kingdom of God (Mark 10:23)! Our enemy triumphs, seeing that our wealth [after death] remains behind us and finally abandons us, and our sins hasten to the Judgment in order to recognize us there before our Lord. Why do you allow the transitory world to deceive you, mortal man, and why do you fall into such confusion and torment yourself with vain labor? The world flatters you and encourages you to gather more and more wealth; when the end comes, the wealth will leave you, and you will not use it at all. It is written: If anyone has an ox that is hungry and does not keep it locked, let him die (see Ex. 21:29). Will the Righteous One ignore the kidnapper who has been butting all day? An ox has only two horns, a rich man has seventy-seven. Woe to you, fat ox, stealing and devouring the labor of tired oxen! Blessed is the well-fed Taurus, who came and sacrificed Himself for people! Do not ask God for wealth that you cannot keep, for the gifts of God are not destroyed. It is also difficult for the rich who place their hope in this kind of thing, because they think that what they possess is a reward and reward for their exploits. For those who think that they are the reward of their righteousness cannot leave their wealth. Drachma is an ancient Greek silver coin.