“Why is it, then, that these necessary things, which sustain
life, are created by God for common use, while money is not common? The reason
is twofold: to safeguard life and to open the path to virtue. On the one hand
if the necessities of life were not common, the rich, with their usual
greediness, would take them away from the poor. In fact, since they keep all
money for themselves, they would certainly do the same with these necessities.
On the other hand if money were common and available to all, there would be no
opportunity for generosity on the part of the rich and gratitude on the part of
the poor.”
John Chrystostom, quoted in "John Chrysostom and the Virtue of Giving." Covenant 1 Dec. 2015
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