THIRD BOOK Concerning Love of Money
Item 1
Against the demon that advised me in my thinking, “In a dream I will entice one of your relatives or one of the rich people to send you gold”
I stretch out my hand to the most high God, who made heaven and earth, if from a string to a shoe-latchet I take from all that is yours.
(Gen 14:22-23)
Item 2
Against the thought that shows me bitter poverty and the evils that arise from it and suggests to me that on the day of need I will not find a helper
If the Lord God will be with me, and guard me on this way on which I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothes to wear, and return me safely to the house of my father, then shall the Lord be for me as God, and this stone, which I have set up as a pillar, shall be for me God’s house.
(Gen 28:20-22)
Item 3
Against the thought of love of money that made us revile our parents because they did not give usany of their property
The one who reviles his father or his mother shall surely die.
(Exod 21:16)
Item 4
Against the thought that, on account of love of money, leads us to afflict with the burden of many labors a brother who has recently become a disciple
You shall not afflict the proselyte, for you know the soul of the proselyte. For you yourselves were proselytes in the land of Egypt.
(Exod 23:9)
Item 5
Against the thought of love of money that withheld compassion from a brother who asked out of his needand that advised us to store up for ourselves alone
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
(Lev 19:18)
Item 6
Against the thought of love of money that makes us hinder a brother from reading the Scriptures or learning a teaching and that incites us, for the sake of temporary gain, to push him into toil and labor
Let no person afflict his neighbor, and you shall fear the Lord your God. For it is I who am the Lord your God.
(Lev 25:17)
Item 7
Against the thought of love of money that neglects someone who has been sick with a long illness and is greatly afflicted by poverty
If your brother who is with you becomes poor and cannot support himself, you shall help him as a stranger and sojourner, and your brother shall live with you.
(Lev 25:35)
Item 8
Against the thought that demanded more manual labor from a brother than he is capable of
Each shall not oppress his brother in labors.
(Lev 25:46)
Item 9
Against the thought that did not permit us to give to a needy brother who asked to borrow something from us
You shall not close your hand to your brother who is in need. You shall open your hands to him and lend him as much as he needs.
(Deut 15:7-8)
Item 10
Against the thought that seeks to keep resources for itself and does not want to give relief to one of the brothers from them
Cursed shall be your barns and your reserves. Cursed shall be the offspring of your belly and the fruits of your land.
(Deut 28:17-18)
Item 11
Against the thought that would increase wealth rather than poverty
Is not the gleaning of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?
(Judg 8:2)
Item 12
Against the soul’s thought that shows mercy to the poor, but immediately changes its mind and regrets the money that it spent on them
Let our hearts be perfect toward the Lord our God, to walk also reverently in his ordinances, and to keep his commandments as this very day.
(3 Kgdms 8:61)
Item 13
Against the soul that wants to attain the death of Jesus while retaining some wealth and forgets how Elisha the prophet, when he renounced the world, divested himself of all that he had
And he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, and he was plowing with oxen; there were twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. And he passed by him and cast his mantle upon him. And Elisha left the cattle and ran after Elijah and said, “I will kiss my father, and then I will follow you.” And Elijah said, “Go back, for I have done [something] for you.” And he returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and slew them and boiled them with the instruments of the oxen, and gave them to the people, and they ate. And he arose and went after Elijah and ministered to him.
(3 Kgdms 19:19-21)
Item 14
Against the soul that is stingy with money and with everything else stored up for it and is unwilling to spend from it on brothers who come
And Elisha said to his slave, “Set on the great pot, and boil soup for the sons of the prophets.”
(4 Kgdms 4:38)
Item 15
Against the soul that has accepted gold that was sent for the business of the brothers and yearns to spend it according to the choice of its own desires, forgetting Gehazi’s leprosy—let those reading consider how Elisha the prophet revealed that the thought of love of money is the first of the evil passions, after which follow the rest of the accompanying concepts, from which is generated an extended period of thoughts that hinder the intellect with evil matters and make it leprous
And Elisha said to him, “Where are you coming from, Gehazi?” And Gehazi said, “Your servant did not go here or there.” But Elisha said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man came back from his chariot to meet you? And now you accepted silver, and now you have accepted clothing, olive orchards, vineyards, sheep, oxen, and male and female slaves. And Naaman’s leprosy shall cleave also to you and to your offspring forever.” And he went out from his presence leprous, like snow.
(4 Kgdms 5:25-27)
Item 16
To the Lord concerning the thought of love of money that reminded me by suggesting, “Look, you have given up your parents’ inheritance”
The Lord is the share of my inheritance and of my cup.
(Ps 15:5)
Item 17
Against the thoughts that taunt us because our parents have forsaken us and will not send us gold to meet our need
For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord has received me.
(Ps 26:10)
Item 18
Against the thoughts that suggest to us, “Look, your brothers in the world are rich and honored by everyone because of their wealth”
My soul shall be honored in the Lord; let the meek hear and rejoice.
(Ps 33:3)
Item 19
Against the soul that does not understand that we will be condemned along with Satan unless we rightly administer the possessions that we have been given by God
The sinner watches the righteous person and seeks to kill him. But the Lord will not leave him in his hands, nor will he condemn him when he is judged.
(Ps 33:3)
Item 20
Against the soul that clings to the world, loves temporal things, and wants the house and property of its parents
Listen, daughter, and see, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father’s house. For the King has desired your beauty.
(Ps 44:11-12)
Item 21
Against the thoughts that meditate upon riches and give no heed to the consuming pain of wealth
If wealth should increase, do not set your heart upon it.
(Ps 61:11)
Item 22
Against the thought that shows us our parents’ splendid house and renders our little cell odious in our eyes
I would rather be a castoff in the house of God than dwell in the tents of sinners.
(Ps 83:11)
Item 23
Against the thought that needs money on the pretext of required possessions and has severed its hope from God’s grace
The Lord will not withhold good things from those who walk in innocence.
(Ps 83:12)
Item 24
To the Lord concerning the thought of love of money that persists in us and suggests to our intellect either the remembrance of money that we have renounced, or the effort that we are making to acquire things that at present cannot be seen, or the preservation and safekeeping of the things we have now
Item 25
Against the thoughts of love of money that depict in me hospitality, compel my soul to take advantage of other people, and incite it to render judgment for the sake of temporal goods
The proud have hidden a snare for me, and they have stretched out ropes as snares for my feet; they set a stumbling block for me near the path.
(Ps 139:6)
Item 26
Against the thought of love of money that prophesies to us that we are going to live in bitter poverty for a long time
A human being is like vanity; his days pass by as a shadow.
(Ps 143:4)
Item 27
Against the soul that because of the passion of love of money offers scarcely anything for mercy
Let not mercy and faith forsake you, but bind them about your neck, and you will find favor. Provide good things before the Lord and human beings.
(Prov 3:3-4)
Item 28
Against the thought of love of money that prevents us from performing acts of beneficence and suggests to us poverty and bodily infirmity [as excuses]
Do not refrain from doing good to the poor whenever it is in your power to help. Do not say, “Come back another time, and tomorrow I will give.”
(Prov 3:27-28)
Item 29
Against the thought of love of money that, on account of the desire for wealth, drove us to perform manual labor night and day, and so deprived us of reading the Holy Scriptures and prevented us from visiting and ministering to the sick
Wealth does not profit on the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
(Prov 11:4)
Item 30
Against the thought that oppresses us because we are spending our money too freely
A man’s own wealth is his life’s ransom, but a poor person is not threatened.
(Prov 13:8)
Item 31
Against the thought that, by means of restraint of compassion, prefers money to God’s wisdom
Wisdom’s brood is choicer than gold, prudence’s brood choicer than silver.
(Prov 16:16)
Item 32
Against the thought of love of money that seeks relaxation and glory from riches
A good name is better than a lot of wealth, and good favor surpasses silver and gold.
(Prov 22:1)
Item 33
Against the intellect that is set free from the thoughts of love of money through almsgiving, but through sorrow and murmuring is once again ensnared in them—these circumstances show that the soul does not discern the passions caused by the thoughts nor does it recognize [that they are] fetters for the rational nature that strives for knowledge of God
God loves a cheerful and generous man, but he shall complete what is lacking of his works.
(Prov 22:8a)
Item 34
Against the thoughts that remind us of home and property and of the way of life associated with them
“Vanity of vanities,” said the Preacher, “vanity of vanities: all is vanity!.”
(Qo 1:2)
Item 35
Against the thought of love of money that both wants to preserve those things that are stored within and wants to collect additional things from without, on the pretexts of refreshment of the brothers and acquisitions of the Holy Scriptures
The one who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver, and who has been content with gain in its abundance? This is also vanity.
(Qo 5:9)
Item 36
Against the thought that depicted before our eyes the loss of the wealth or property that was of great bodily refreshment to Job
The Lord gave, and the Lord took away, as it seemed good to the Lord.
(Job 1:21)
Item 37
Against the thought of love of money that advised us to stockpile food and clothing and not to give them to the brothers who need them
Break your bread for the hungry person, and bring the poor without shelter into your house. If you see a naked person, clothe him, and do not overlook relatives of your own seed.
(Isa 58:7)
Item 38
Against the soul that does not yield to mercy when it sees the brothers’ poverty
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
(Matt 5:7)
Item 39
Against the soul that wants, because of money or property that has been taken from it, to file a lawsuit, and does not recognize that it will not be set free from the fetters of the thoughts caused by what has been taken from it unless in love it offers its cloak as well
And if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well.
(Matt 5:40)
Item 40
Against the thought that prevented us from lending to a brother on the pretext that he cannot repay
Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
(Matt 5:42)
Item 41
Against the inner thoughts that want to acquire riches and to consume the intellect with anxiety about them
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal.
(Matt 6:19)
Item 42
Against the demon that said to us, “Property can, when a person acquires riches, serve the Lord”
No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
(Matt 6:24)
Item 43
Against the soul that in a time of distress wants its need to be filled by others, but does not want to refresh others who are afflicted and in want
In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
(Matt 7:12)
Item 44
Against the thought that did not permit us to share our wealth when a noble occasion was depicted before our eyes
How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!
(Mark 10:23)
Item 45
Against the intellect that performed acts of righteousness but before which was depicted an image of fraud, murmuring, and sullen faces, things alien to love of practicing the commandments; and that does not want to be troubled by such passions on account of the holy knowledge that comes to the intellect when it has been stripped of the foul passions
The compassionate, in cheerfulness. Let love be genuine.
(Rom 12:8-9)
Item 46
Against the thought of love of money that called blessed our corporeal brothers and our kinfolk who are in the world because they possess visible wealth
For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
(2 Cor 4:18)
Item 47
Against the thought that is sparing in what it gives to the poor—for giving alms sets the intellect free from thoughts, while regretting what one has given binds the intellect to the thoughts that impede it and that damage its ability to receive the knowledge of God
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
(2 Cor 9:6)
Item 48
Against the thoughts of love of money that corrupt kindness to the brothers
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
(Eph 4:32)
Item 49
Against the thought that seeks to store up possessions for itself alone
Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
(Phil 2:4)
Item 50
Against the thought that presents to us the advantage of possessions and displays to us past wealth that would be able to support many brothers
Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.
(Phil 3:7-8)
Item 51
Against the thoughts that reconcile us to greed and that do not see the idolatry that is born from it
Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.
(Col 3:5-6)
Item 52
Against the thoughts that seek to collect for our need more than what we need and that desire to acquire wealth
Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
(Heb 13:5)
Item 53
Against the soul that seeks more than food and clothing and does not remember that it entered the world bare and it will leave it naked
For we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
(1 Tim 6:7-8)
Item 54
Against the thought of love of money that said that nothing evil attaches to love of money, but rather great refreshment for the brothers and for strangers [attaches to it]
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
(1 Tim 6:10)
Item 55
Against the thought that seeks, on the pretext that profit will fill its need, to be entangled in the affairs of the world
No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer. And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules.
(2 Tim 2:4-5)
Item 56
Against the thought that anxiously serves in business affairs on the pretext that the money has run out, and now there is nothing left of it, and it cannot be regained
Whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ.
(1 Pet 4:11)
Item 57
Against the thought of love of money that did not want to give alms to the brothers on the pretext that “they are not in need” and so in action renounced God’s love
How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother in need and yet refuses help?
(1 John 3:17)
Item 58
Against the thoughts that make us confess in word that we love the brothers, while in action we will renounce them because of love of money
Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. Blessed is our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has given us the victory over the demon of love of money, so that we might defeat it! Amen. 99
(1 John 3:18)