Accepting Poverty

Εἰ λυπεῖ ἡ πενία, ἐξουδένωται ἡ θεία νομοθεσία, Μακάριοι, φάσκουσα, οἱ πτωχοὶ πνεύματι, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν. Εἰ τοίνυν ταύτης οὐκ ἀντεχόμεθα, εὔδηλον, ὡς κἀκείνης οὐκ ἐφιέμεθα· εἰ δὲ ἐκείνην εὐχαρίστως δεχόμεθα, καὶ ταύτης εἴκωμεν τοῖς προστάγμασι. Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος Του Πηλουσιώτου, Βιβλίον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολὴ ΤΟΕ´ Κυρῳ Source: Migne PG 78.396a

If poverty grieves, set at naught is the Divine law which says: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' 1 If then we reject the former, so it is clear we refuse the latter; but if we receive that with thanks, so we shall follow His commandments. Saint Isidore of Pelusium, Book 1, Letter 375, To Cyrus 1 Mt 5.3