THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Thus Paul spoke then. So I speak now, and I speak not only to the brethren present, but also to those absent. No one has taken your possessions. But even if something has been taken, show hospitality from what remains.
What defense shall we have, when this was said to Paul's hearers even after their possessions had been plundered? And notice this. Here he says, "Do not forget to do good and to share." Above he said, "Do not forget hospitality" (Heb 13:2).
He does not mean something different, but expresses one and the same thing in another way. "Do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."
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Let us offer Him such a sacrifice, he says, so that He may raise it to the Father. It is not raised in any other way than by the Son, or rather, by a contrite heart.
He says all this to hearers who were still very weak. Yet it is known that grace belongs also to the Son. Otherwise, why is equal honor with the Father ascribed to Him?
"That all may honor the Son," Scripture says, "as they honor the Father" (Jn 5:23).
How will equal honor be rendered to Them if the Son is not glorified together with the Father when the Father is glorified?
If "the fruit of lips confessing His name" (Heb 13:15) consists in thanksgiving to Him for all things, and for His suffering for us, then let us endure everything with thanksgiving.
Whether illness, poverty, or anything else happens to us, let us give thanks, because He alone knows what is useful for us.
"For we do not know," says the Apostle, "what we should pray for as we ought" (Rom 8:26). If we do not know what to ask for when we are not taught by the Spirit, how can we know what is useful for us?
Therefore let us strive to give thanks to Him for everything, and to endure bravely everything that befalls us.
If we fall into poverty or illness, let us give thanks. If we are slandered, let us give thanks. If we suffer, let us give thanks. This brings us near to God, and through this God becomes our debtor.
But when we prosper, then we ourselves become debtors and answerable before God. Sometimes, and often, prosperity serves for our condemnation, while affliction serves for the cleansing of sins.
Affliction disposes us to mercy and love for mankind. Prosperity leads to arrogance, casts us into carelessness, makes us haughty, and weakens us.
Therefore the prophet says, "It is good for me, O Lord, that I was afflicted, that I might learn Thy statutes" (Ps 118:71).
When Hezekiah received benefits and was free from calamities, his heart was lifted up (4 Kgs 18:7). But when he fell ill, then he was humbled, and then he drew near to God (4 Kgs 20:1-3).
"When He slew them," Scripture says of the Jews, "then they sought Him, and they returned and sought God early" (Ps 77:34).
On the contrary, when he "grew fat, became thick, and was bloated," then "he forsook God" (Deut 32:15). The Lord is known when He executes judgment.
Affliction is a great good. The way to heaven is narrow. Affliction urges us along this narrow way, while one who does not endure affliction cannot enter.
Whoever gives himself to affliction on this narrow way also receives consolation. But whoever loves breadth either does not enter it, or is tormented, as if being forced in.
Listen to how Paul entered upon this narrow way. "I discipline and enslave," he says, "my body" (1 Cor 9:27). He mortified his body so that he might be able to enter that way.
Therefore, in all his sufferings, he constantly gave thanks to God. Have you been deprived of possessions? This has greatly reduced the breadth of your way.
Have you been deprived of glory? That too was breadth. Have you been subjected to slander? Do people believe what has been said against you, though you do not know yourself guilty of it?
Rejoice and be glad. "Blessed are you," the Lord said, "when they revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven" (Mt 5:11-12).
Why are you astonished when affliction overtakes you? Why do you desire to be freed from temptations? Paul desired to be freed from them and often entreated God, but he did not receive this.
For "three times" precisely means often. "Three times I pleaded with the Lord that it might depart from me. But the Lord said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness'" (2 Cor 12:8-9).
By weakness here he means afflictions. What then? Having heard this, Paul bore them with thanksgiving and said, "Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses" (2 Cor 12:10).
That is, I rejoice and find delight in afflictions. Therefore let us give thanks for everything, both for consolation and for affliction. Let us not murmur, and let us not be ungrateful.
You also say, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return" (Job 1:21). You were not born glorious, so do not seek glory.
You entered life possessing not only no wealth, but also no glory and honor. Consider how much evil often comes from wealth. Or rather, listen to what Christ says.
"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" (Mt 19:24).
Do you see what blessings wealth prevents one from obtaining? Yet you want to become rich, and you do not rejoice in poverty, though this obstacle has been removed.
So narrow is the way that leads to the heavenly kingdom. So broad, burdensome, and oppressive is wealth. Therefore the Lord said, "Sell what you possess," so that you might enter this way (Mt 19:21).
Why do you desire wealth? God has deprived you of it precisely to deliver you from slavery.
So too natural fathers, seeing that their son is being corrupted by some prostitute, and that no exhortations persuade him to leave her, drive the prostitute away.
Such is the abundance of wealth. Therefore the Master, caring for us and wishing to deliver us from the harm that comes from it, deprives us of wealth.
Let us not consider poverty an evil. The only evil is sin. Likewise, wealth in itself is not a good. The one good is to please God.
Therefore let us desire poverty and seek it. In this way we shall reach heaven and receive the heavenly blessings.
May we all be counted worthy of them by the grace and love for mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, with Whom to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, dominion, and honor, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.