Heavenly Treasure from God
“If a man is very rich in this world, and possesses a hidden treasure, out of that treasure and wealth that he has he purchases whatever he has a mind to purchase. Whatever rare articles in the world he fancies, he readily amasses them, relying upon the treasure, because by means of it he easily procures any piece of property he fancies. In like manner those who seek at God’s hand, and have found, and have the Heavenly Treasure of the Spirit, which is the Lord Himself shining in their hearts, accomplish every righteousness of virtues, and every acquisition of goodness commanded by the Lord, out of the treasure of Christ in them, and by means of it they amass a yet more abundant heavenly wealth. By means of that heavenly treasure they effect every virtue of righteousness, relying upon the multitude of the spiritual riches within them, and easily work every righteousness and commandment of the Lord by means of the invisible wealth of grace that is in them. The apostle says, Having this treasure in earthen vessels, that is, the treasure which it was granted to them in this life to possess within themselves, the sanctifying power of the Spirit; and again, who was made to us Wisdom from God, and righteousness, and sanctifications, and redemption.” ~St. Macarius the Egyptian
Worldly Treasure
Having wealth isn’t necessarily an evil thing, but having worldly wealth, a wealth of material possessions often develops into a desire for more and more material wealth, and at any cost. That is how it becomes evil. It is why the Essene leaders, including Jesus, required members of their community to donate all their material wealth to the community as a whole and do not claim ownership of anything. That is why the Essenes were often called “the poor,” and this is what Jesus meant when he told the wealthy man who wanted to join his community that he would have to give all his wealth to the poor. He meant to the Essene community of which he was the Rabbi, not some random poor people found in the streets. Continue reading “Heavenly Treasure is Better than Earthly Treasure”