The Holy Prophet Zephaniah (Sophonias) (7th century BC)
1 Timothy 6:17-21; Luke 18:31-34
Nativity Fast.
Read 1 Timothy 6:17-21
Consider for a moment a successful and wealthy businessman. He conducts himself with integrity and his business dealings are always honest. He pays his employees a good wage and always treats them and their families well. He quietly donates a full ten-percent tithe of his gross income to his parish and dedicates substantial amounts of money to other charitable causes. He and his family spend time each week volunteering their time at soup kitchens and other ministries to the less fortunate. His family is always comfortably housed and well-fed and they take nice vacations, but they never boast about them. This man is very hardworking and makes intelligent decisions in his business dealings, but he understands that none of his wealth would be possible without God allowing it. He understands that God lets him have such wealth so that he can both support his family very well and be lavish in his generosity to others. He teaches this to his children. This is the kind of rich person who is not haughty and does not place his hopes in the uncertainty of riches.
Even in this man’s case, there is always a possibility that his business fails and he loses everything that makes him rich. However, the wealth that is good works and our generosity with them can never fail.
Something similar happens in our own spiritual lives, as we build riches of good works. Like this businessman, we need to be diligent and smart about our walk in faith, rule of prayer, and life of virtue. As we love God more and more deeply, we love others more and more deeply. As we love others more, we offer ourselves, our time, and our talents for the service of others. As we serve others more, we come to a deeper and greater love of God.
This is a cycle that never ends! We can never love God and other people too much. Unlike the wealth of a business, the wealth of good works cannot fail, since they are not just allowed by God, but are from God himself, Who is without end.