Christian Mission and Poverty

Chapter 1: Early Christian Teaching

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gives them for the salvation of men; and knows that he possesses them more for his brothers’ sake than his own; and is superior to the possession of them, and is not the slave of the things he possesses; and does not carry them about in his soul, and does not tie up and restrict his life within them, but is ever working at some good and divine work, even should he for some time or other be deprived of them, is able with cheerful mind to deal with their removal as well as he deals with their abundance. This is he who is blessed by the Lord, and called poor in spirit, a worthy heir of the kingdom of heaven, not one who could not live rich. 17. But he who carries his riches in his soul, and instead of God’s Spirit bears gold or land in his heart, and is always acquiring possessions without end, and is always on the outlook for more, bending downwards and chained in the toils of the world, being earth and destined to depart to earth—how can he be able to desire and to think about the kingdom of heaven . . . ? For where the mind of man is, there is also his treasure. . . . In the same way spiritual poverty is blessed. This is why Matthew also added, “Blessed are the poor” (Matt 5:3). How? “In spirit.” And again, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after the righteousness of God” (Matt 5:6). This is why the opposite kind of poor are wretched, those who have no part in God, and still less in human property, and have not tasted of the righteousness of God . . . 24. You may even go against wealth. Say, “Certainly Christ does not prevent me from having property. The Lord does not envy.” But do you see yourself overcome and overthrown by it? Leave it, throw it away, hate,