How can we be faithful in earthly matters?

First: Use earthly goods to obtain eternal goods. St. Augustine says, “every man who made a good use of these advantages suited to the peace of this mortal condition, should receive ampler and better blessings, namely, the peace of immortality, accompanied by glory and honor in an endless life made fit for the enjoyment of God and of one another in God;

1108 St. Basil of Caesarea, “I Will Tear Down My Barns,” 3 in On Social Justice (PP 38:62–63).

1109 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the First Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to Timothy Homily 11 (NPNF I/13:443).

1110 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the First Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to Timothy Homily 12 (NPNF I/13:448).

1111 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the First Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to Timothy Homily 12 (NPNF I/13:448).

but that he who used the present blessings badly should both lose them and should not receive the others.”¹¹¹²

Second: Do not fear wealth; fear greed. St. John Chrysostom says, “And let us produce the lessons of true wisdom, and say, we forbid not riches, but ill-gotten riches. For it is lawful to be rich, but without covetousness, without rapine and violence, and an ill report from all men.”¹¹¹³

Third: Strive for the sake of the common good. St. John Chrysostom says, “for everyone is bound to make full use of what he has for the common advantage. If it be wisdom you have, if power, if wealth, if what it may, let it not be for the hurt of your fellow-servants, neither for your own ruin.”¹¹¹⁴ He also says, “Whence then proceeds the great inequality of conditions in life? From the avarice and pride of the wealthy.”¹¹¹⁵

Fourth: Do not misuse your possessions. St. Augustine says, “In this life the wrong of evil possessors is endured and among them certain laws are established which are called civil laws, not because they bring men to make a good use of their wealth, but because those who make a bad use of it become thereby less injurious.”¹¹¹⁶ And St. Ambrose says:

“The earth was established in common for all, rich and poor. Why do you alone, O rich, demand special treatment? Nature, which begets everyone poor, knows no wealthy, for we are not born with clothing or begotten with gold and silver. Naked it brings us into the light (cf. Job 1:21), wanting food, clothing and drink, and naked the earth receives us whom it brought forth, not knowing how to compass our possessions in the tomb. The narrow sod is equally spacious for poor and rich, and the earth, which did not contain the desires of the rich person when he was alive, now contains him entirely.”¹¹¹⁷

“… for nature has poured forth all things for all men for common use. God has ordered all things to be produced, so that there should be food in common to all, and that the earth should be a common possession for all. Nature, therefore, has produced a common right for all, but greed has made it a right for a few.”¹¹¹⁸

“The world was created for all, but you few rich try to keep it for yourselves.”¹¹¹⁹

1112 St. Augustine of Hippo, City of God 19.13 (NPNF I/2:410) .

1113 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the First Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians 11.5 (NPNF I/12:62).

1114 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on Matthew 77.3 (NPNF I/10:448) amended.

1115 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on John 15.3 (NPNF I/14:53).

1116 St. Augustine of Hippo, Letters, Vol. III (131–164) 153 (FOTC 20:302).

1117 St. Ambrose of Milan, “On Naboth” in Ambrose , trans., Boniface Ramsey (Routledge, 1997) 1.2: p. 118.

1118 St. Ambrose of Milan, Duties of the Clergy 1.28.132 (NPNF II/10:23).

1119 St. Ambrose of Milan, “On Naboth” in Ambrose , trans., Boniface Ramsey (Routledge, 1997) 3.11: p. 120.