The Illusion of Control over Wealth

And in shipwrecks, one bears neither poverty well, nor wealth, nor glory; from which it is evident that these things, by the very word, are indifferent. For if anyone is able to use them well and for good, by the very word they are neither good nor evil. They are able to have a good use and a useful use, a graspable and praiseworthy one. And it is not surprising if we say this.

And that Egyptian whom they say, the Trismegistus, says that the wise light does not release fate; it is not under necessity, nor is it under the world, but it has become above the heaven; the intellect of the visible things has become above. Therefore they say that the foolish men are under it. Thus, the one who has ascended above human life and is able to say, 'I look not at the visible things, but at the invisible things' (2 Cor 4:18), knows that the visible things are temporary, but the invisible are eternal; he is not weakened by them, nor does wealth lift him up, nor does poverty sink him, nor does he seem to have acquired a great evil from a lack of glory. And from the honor and fame of the many, he does not consider himself to have anything.

But what of the ascent? They are rich and glorified in the 'wisdom of this age and of the rulers of this age that are passing away' (1 Cor 2:6). These do not rightly use either glory or prudence. And because of this, they are examined in great sin. For the wise man, even if he lacks one of these, conducting himself magnanimously, is not under evil; he is not at all sick but is healthy, and according to virtue he is healthy.

'Wealth' and 'possessions'—hear thus: as mostly 'possessions' is said of movable things; they even call them treasures. And not only these has this one acquired, but also 'wealth' in property, in estates, in lands, in houses. Toward wealth, therefore, both possessions and glory are given to him. But toward the intellect, it is said, that often someone will know in a false name and will be glorified in glory and in this...

To those thinking highly of themselves, believing they are wise and seeming to be prudent, and that they are not 'mastered by these things' (Luke 12:20); sometimes they obtain what they desire. And it seems to them that 'nothing of theirs is lacking to the soul' (Luke 12:21), thinking they have acquired all 'wealth' of the soul and all 'glory', yet they do not have the power to use them.

Take for me someone who has grasped a great position, but has fallen into misfortune, such that he is no longer progressing; the power of the position is of no use to him. And indeed, we have known such people many times.

To bring this to a point: it is to find a man who is rich, as it has been said allegorically, and yet they have nothing more. No one receives them, no one praises them, and they do not bring profit. And we have known many such men who are learned: observing that something is necessary, and seeing how they are. And there is nothing lacking to his soul from all things which he desires, and God does not permit him to eat from it. Nothing of what he desires is added to him. This he says, that God has not given him power over them empty, even if he uses them as he wishes, because he does not rightly satisfy the desire.

Thus the rich man, remembered with Lazarus (Luke 16:19), had everything, and 'possessions and wealth and glory' (Luke 16:19). And he received 'to master' them there, but after this, a deprivation of them occurred, and also of the pleasure upon them; and the one who heard: 'Fool, this very night they demand your soul from you (Luke 12:20). But what you have prepared, to whom will it belong?'

Others, having these things abundantly and very richly, are not permitted to be filled by them; they are prevented from having enjoyment, either through sickness or through some other circumstance. Because a stranger man eats him; and indeed this is also futility and sickness. These things, the 'wealth' which he accompanied, the 'possessions' eat him. And this happens in many ways; sometimes he falls to robbers and his wealth is taken from him. Many times the one summoned by the king...