Yet it must be pointed out that he was not opposed to wealth per se, but against the misuse of it, especially conspicuous consumption and the cruel chasm between rich and poor that characterized the great cities of the empire. John was often more bold than tactful, especially when it came to the excesses of wealth. A constant theme in these sermons is Christ’s concern for the poor. One of Chrysostom’s most enduring legacies lies in the homilies that fortunately have come down to us-in the hundreds. His eloquence and rhetorical gifts posthumously earned him the sobriquet “Goldenmouth” (Gk. 347-407) was an archbishop, preacher, the ologian, and reformer who lived in the early days of the Byzantine empire. If we have this attitude, we will certainly offer our money and by nourishing Christ in poverty here and laying up great profit hereafter, we will be able to attain the good things which are to come, by the grace and kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom (be glory, honor, and might,) to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. If you cannot remember everything, instead of everything, I beg you, remember this without fail, that not to share our own wealth with the poor is theft from the poor and deprivation of their means of life we do not possess our own wealth but theirs. But those responsibilities were to be exercised freely, in accord with our nature, and without compulsion. Their responsibilities to the poor and to the neighbor were non-negotiable. He was equally severe with those who had accumulated wealth. John Chrysostom as some sort of proto-free marketer, that is not the point. Lest anyone think I post this to cast St. The only way to achieve true justice is to change people’s hearts first - and then they will joyfully share their wealth. Material justice cannot be accomplished by compulsion, a change of heart will not follow. Far from bringing moral benefit to society, it would actually do moral harm.

Worse still, the rich whose gold was taken away would feel bitter and resentful while the poor who received the gold form the hands of soldiers would feel no gratitude, because no generosity would have prompted the gift. Those who combined both cruel hearts and sharp minds would soon find ways of making themselves rich again.

Should we look to kings and princes to put right the inequalities between rich and poor? Should we require soldiers to come and seize the rich person’s gold and distribute it among his destitute neighbors? Should we beg the emperor to impose a tax on the rich so great that it reduces them to the level of the poor and then to share the proceeds of that tax among everyone? Equality imposed by force would achieve nothing, and do much harm. (HT: American Orthodox Institute Observer, et al.):

On wealth and poverty john chrysostom