On Wealth and Poverty by John Chrysostom

But those responsibilities were to be exercised freely, in accord with our nature, and without compulsion. Their responsibilities to the poor and to the neighbor were non-negotiable. He was equally severe with those who had accumulated wealth. John Chrysostom as some sort of proto-free marketer, that is not the point. Lest anyone think I post this to cast St. The only way to achieve true justice is to change people’s hearts first - and then they will joyfully share their wealth. Material justice cannot be accomplished by compulsion, a change of heart will not follow.

Far from bringing moral benefit to society, it would actually do moral harm. Worse still, the rich whose gold was taken away would feel bitter and resentful while the poor who received the gold form the hands of soldiers would feel no gratitude, because no generosity would have prompted the gift. Those who combined both cruel hearts and sharp minds would soon find ways of making themselves rich again. Should we look to kings and princes to put right the inequalities between rich and poor? Should we require soldiers to come and seize the rich person’s gold and distribute it among his destitute neighbors? Should we beg the emperor to impose a tax on the rich so great that it reduces them to the level of the poor and then to share the proceeds of that tax among everyone? Equality imposed by force would achieve nothing, and do much harm. (HT: American Orthodox Institute Observer, et al.):

On Wealth and Poverty by John Chrysostom