THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
In a different passage, Scripture encourages individuals to cherish wisdom, urging them to pursue it with the same zeal as they would seek silver. Does this imply that the Scripture endorses greed? Yet, it is evident how much toil and anguish those consumed by greed endure, how many delights they forego, driven either by an insatiable desire for wealth or by a dread of lacking. They astutely chase after profits while carefully evading losses, often fearing to grasp what does not belong to them, yet, on occasion, displaying a strange indifference to their own suffering as they strive to preserve more in their dealings and disputes. Thus, we are called to desire wisdom in such a manner that we eagerly seek to obtain it for ourselves and to continually acquire more of it.
Read more (180 words)
We should guard even the smallest portion of it, endure hardships, restrain our desires, anticipate the future, and uphold integrity and virtue. When we manage to achieve this, we obtain genuine virtues, for our pursuits align with what is true—namely, that it benefits our nature in terms of salvation and authentic well-being.
It is beneath the dignity of wisdom to be likened to silver, yet love invites comparison to love. I observe your deep affection for silver, which compels you to undertake strenuous efforts, endure hunger, and navigate treacherous seas, trusting yourself to the winds and currents. Therefore, even if I were to remove what is dear to you, I can add nothing to the love that captivates you. God calls out, “Love in this way, and I desire no greater love from you.” To those who are insatiable, to those who are miserly, He says: “If your heart clings to money, let it also cling to Me. My worth is incomparable, yet I ask for no greater love; just as you love your wealth, so should you love Me.”