“But for many, it is prosperity of life that constitutes the greatest trial.” -St. Basil the Great

One could preach it today, this line from St. Basil the Great on the trial of prosperity. The enduring warning of tradition, both Jewish and Christian, is that the burden and responsibility which the rich must bear for the poor, the responsibility of the wealthy, is an eternal and daily chore. A warning about love and justice and the ultimate judgement of God, Jesus said we should think about it for the sake of our souls. We should think, he said, of that moment when God will call us to account, asking each of us what we did with what we were given, a moment we’ll no longer be able to hide or pretend.

The teaching of Jesus in this passage from Luke is simple. The reason Jesus praises the “dishonest steward” is because when the steward realized his master was coming, he changed his behavior to improve his position. It’s an odd analogy, but the point is clear. Jesus said, “I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Lk 16:9). That is, knowing that the Lord is coming, knowing that one day the Lord will call us to account, believers ought to change their behavior—spiritually, morally, and even financially. To be specific: because God cares for the poor and because God will ask us about it at the judgment, believers should care about the poor and about justice too. And what that means for wealthy believers is that they should make friends with the poor. That’s how the rich contribute: by not only spiritually but also materially fostering the friendships of the kingdom of God.

So, what does this mean in practice? St. John Chrysostom, that ancient fiery preacher of justice, put it this way: “This is why God has allowed you to have more…to distribute to those in need.” That’s it. It’s that simple. To possess wealth is to possess great responsibility. As St. Basil said, it’s a trial. Struggling against those ancient human traits—selfishness, greed, callousness—is a genuine struggle. Which is why we ought to beg for the grace of Christ, that he nudges and inspires us to do well with our wealth. Because he’s given us great responsibility: the care of the poor, those whom God loves most.

And it’s a beautiful struggle, joyful even. If you’re blessed with wealth, rejoice in the task God’s given you. Because it’s a good and joyful thing to be generous with the gifts God has given you. Just stay close to God and stay honest. Remain genuine in your love for the poor. Because God means it when he says he will ultimately demand an accounting from us. Thus, let us pray and work for justice, let us love the poor in word and action, so that we can stand before God joyfully with our friends—rich and poor together in the just kingdom of God.

Be just this week. Love the poor this week.