How the Rich Must Conduct Themselves in Order To Be Saved
April 27
(A homily of John Chrysostom, that one ought to show mercy first to one’s own household.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
April 27
(A homily of John Chrysostom, that one ought to show mercy first to one’s own household.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
Once, after finishing the conversation with the rich young man, who, after the words of the Lord, “if you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor” (Matt. 19:21), went away from Him sorrowful, the Savior said to His disciples: “Truly I say to you, that it is hard for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God” (Matt. 19:23–24).
What does this mean? Does it mean that for the rich entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven is almost impossible? No. Saint John Chrysostom, explaining the above words of the Lord, says that “Christ by these words does not condemn wealth, but those who are attached to it.” Therefore, the Lord in these words points not to the impossibility for the rich to be saved, but only to the danger of wealth in the work of salvation for those attached to it.
With right and prudent use of wealth, a rich man also can be saved, like the rich Abraham, Job, David, and countless other rich men who now are blessed in the dwellings of the Heavenly Father.
In what then does the right and prudent use of one’s wealth consist, and how in general must the rich conduct themselves in order to be saved?
To these questions we find the answer in Saint Chrysostom; he teaches the rich thus:
“Have you been filled with food — remember the hungry. Have you quenched your thirst — remember the thirsty. Have you warmed yourself — warm the one shivering in winter. Do you live in a high and richly adorned house — bring into it the one who wanders. Have you rejoiced at a feast — make glad the sorrowful and grieving. Have you been honored as a rich man — visit also the poor. Have you gone out joyful from your prince — make joyful also all the servants in your house. It is no small thing in the eyes of God when someone also makes his servants free from care. And if you are merciful and condescending toward them, then you yourself, at the departure of your soul from the body, will receive mercy.
Let your house be a lodging for the servants of God and for priests and for every rank of the Church: bring such into your house and show them honor; set a table before them, and you yourself with your household serve them. Let them know you, and let their prayer for you be offered up in the Church, and let your candle burn there, and let the prosphora be offered.
Look upon the monks, and offer them monastic food, and serve them with your household in humility. Send them on their way with honor and give something for the needs of monastic life. And if for all this they leave you only their blessing, even this will be for you an inestimable treasure; for 'the prayer of a righteous man has great power,' says the word of God.
Do not forget also the hermits, and supply them with what they need, and ask their prayers for yourself, and lay their words to heart, and receive their blessing. But do not accept slanders against monks or against anyone of the clergy. Do not judge one who sins, remembering the words of the Lord: 'Judge not, that you be not judged.' Do not be ashamed to bow first to those you meet.
And if you live thus, then not only will authority and wealth not hinder you from salvation, but they will become for you guides to the Kingdom of Heaven, like good friends.”
Thus, for the rich also the entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven is not closed, if only the gifts of the grace of God — contained even in temporal goods — they use for the glory of God, for the benefit of their neighbor, and for the salvation of their soul.
And the rich will be saved if, preserving true piety, they help everyone, with whatever they can and as much as they can: they will feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, help the one lacking clothing, assist by their help the one imprisoned or the one in sickness — and even for the dead, according to the word of the Venerable one, they will not withhold grace (Sirach 7:36).
If in general they perform acts of philanthropy according to their strength, for the glory of God, then they also from their own experience will know the truth of the words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
