Wealth and Faith

Nemo praesumat, quia dives est, plus sibi deferendum. Ille est dives Ecclesia qui fide dives est; fideli enim totus mundus divitiarum est. Quid mirum si mundum fidelis possidet, qui possidet Christi haereditatem, quae pretiosior est mundo? Sanguine pretisoso redempti estis, omnibus utique non solis pecuniosis dictum est. Sed si vultis divities esse, sequimi dicentem: Sancti in omni conversatione estote. Non solis divitibus dicit, sed omnibus; quia sine discrimine personarum judicat, ut bonus testis ejus Apostolus dicit. Et ideo non in remissione, non in fastidio, non in exaltione cordis: sed in timore, inquit, hoc incolatus vestri tempore conversamini. Tempus accepistis hac in terra, non perpetuitem: ipsi tempore utamini, qui sciatis vos migraturos. Nolite in divitiis confidere; quia omnia illa hic relinquntur, sola vos comitabitur fides. Erit sane etiam justitia comes, si fides praevia sit. Quid vos palpant divitiae? Non auro vel argento, non possessionibus, non sericis vestibus, de vana vestra conversatione redempti estis: sed pretisoso sanguine Christi Jesu.' Ille ergo dives est, qui fuerit haeres Dei, Christi cohaeres. Noli pauperem contemnere, ille te divitem fecit. Noli egentem fastidire: 'Iste pauper clamavit et Dominus exaudivit eum.' Noli inopem refutare: et Christus pauper factus est, cum dives esset: sed propter te pauper factus est, ut te inopia sua divitem faceret. Sanctus Ambrosius Mediolanensis, ex Epistola LXIII, Vercellensi Ecclesiae

Let no one presume, because he is rich, that more deference must be paid to him. He is rich in the Church who is rich in faith, for the faithful has a whole world of riches. What wonder if the faithful man possesses the world, since possesses the inheritance of Christ which is of more precious than the world? 'With the Precious Blood you were redeemed ,' was said to all not only to the rich. But if you wish to be rich, follow him who says: 'Be holy in all your conversation.' 1 Not only to the rich He speaks but to all, for He judges without respect of persons, as the good witness His Apostle says. And therefore not in relaxation, or fastidiousness, nor in haughtiness of heart, but in fear spend the time of your residing here. The time you are given on this earth is not forever, so make use of that time as those who know that they shall pass on. Do not put your trust in riches, for all such things are left here, faith alone will accompany you. And surely righteousness will be a companion if faith has led the way. Why do riches beguile you?  Not with gold and silver, not with possessions, not with silk garments, not from your vain conversation were you saved but by the precious Blood of Christ.  He then is rich who is an heir of God, a joint heir with Christ. Do not despise a poor man, he has made you rich. Do not shrink from a poor man, 'This poor man called out and the Lord heard him.' 2 Do not reject a poor man. Christ when He was rich became poor, and He became poor because of you, that by His poverty He might make you rich.   Saint Ambrose, from Letter 63, To the Church of Vercellae 1 1 Pet 1.15  2 Ps 33.7