One person has the skill to hammer brass into the most exquisite shapes and to engrave elaborate patterns on to it. Another has the skill to make furniture, joining together different pieces of wood so firmly that no one can break them apart. A third person can spin the finest yarn, while a fourth weaves it into cloth. A fifth craftsman can lay stones one on top of the other to build walls, while a sixth puts a roof on top of the walls to make a house. Indeed there are so many different skills, each one requiring many years to attain, that it would be impossible to list them all. So what is the skill that rich people should acquire? They do not need to fashion brass or wood, or to build houses. Rather, they must learn how to use their wealth well, to the good of all the people around them. The ordinary craftsman may think that that is an easy skill to learn. On the contrary, it is the hardest skill of all. It requires both great wisdom and great moral strength. Look at how many rich people fail to acquire it, and how few practice it to perfection.
- St. John Chrysostom
This was a good challenge for me to read. One way you can read this is in terms of how we serve others. Some people have passions and talents that allow them to volunteer in very hands-on ways. But others, truly most of us in this middle-class society we live in, have financial means to give to those less fortunate. It is possible that there are those in this world whose talents are making money. There is nothing shameful in that. And if they use that money to procure their own security, and make more money, they can give even more money to those in need.
The challenge is in determining how much someone needs. We want to set aside money for the future - for future children, for retirement, or for unforeseen accidents. But hoarding too much money can be greedy and uncessary. So what is a reasonable amount? That depends on the person - we all just have to give some serious thought as to what that is for us.
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