Christian Mission and Poverty

Chapter 3: Distribution and Justice

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enjoyment, he would pay the penalty and come to ruin; thus also the rich man is, as it were, a receiver of goods which are destined to be dispensed to the poor—to those of his fellow-servants who are in want. If he then should spend upon himself more than he really needs, he will pay hereafter a heavy penalty. For the things he has are not his own, but are the things of his fellow-servants. 4. Let us then be as sparing of our possessions as we should be of those of other people, that they may become really our own. In what manner, then, can we be as sparing of them as of those of other people? By not expending them on superfluous wants, nor for our own needs only, but by imparting them also to the poor. Even if you are a rich man, if you spend more than you need, you will render an account of the property which has been entrusted to you. This same thing happens in great households. Many in this way entrust their entire property into the hands of dependents; yet those who are thus trusted take care of the things delivered to them, and do not squander the deposit, but distribute to whomever and whenever the master orders. The same thing do you. If you have received more than others, you have received it, not that you only should spend it, but that you should be a good steward of it for the advantage of others . . . The same thing also St Paul 7 with much admiration insists on, in these words: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb 13:2). And well does he say unawares . . . For if they had knowingly received them with such goodwill, they would have done no great or wonderful

7 Some early Christians held Paul to be the author of Hebrews.