Wealth And Scripture

Ἀκούω σε ταῖς θείαις Βίβλοις ἐμμελετᾷν, καὶ ταῖς αὐτῶν κεχρῆσθαι μαρτυρίαις ἀρμοδίως πρὸς ἄπαντας, εἶναι δὲ πελονέκτην, καὶ τοῖς ἀλλοτρίοις ἐπιμαινόμενον βίοις. Καὶ πάνυ μοι θαυμάζειν ἐπέρχεται, ὅτι σε ὁ θεῖος ἔρως οὐκ ἕτρωσεν ἐκ τῆς συνεχοῦς ἀναγνώσεως, μεταβολὴν τῆς προθέσεως ἐργασάμενος, ὁ μὴ μόνον τῶν ἀλλοτρίων κωλύων ἐρᾷν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰ προσόντα σκορπίζειν νουθετῶν. Ἥ τοίνυν ἀναγινώσκων ἐπίγνωθι, ἤ μὴ ἐπίγνώσκων ἀνάγνωθι. Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος Του Πηλουσιώτου, Βιβλίον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολὴ ΚΖ' Φαρισμανιῳ Εὐνουχῳ του Παλατιου Source: Migne PG 78.200b

I hear that you are well exercised in the Divine Scriptures and would put their testimonies to use fitly in all things, and yet you are avaricious and madly desire the goods of others. It amazes me that it has happened that by your extensive reading the Divine has not lovingly wounded you and effected a change in your wishes, not only prohibiting lust for what belongs to others, but even admonishing you to distribute what is yours. Either then understand what you read, or lacking understanding read. Saint Isidore of Pelusium, Book 1, Letter 27, To Pharismanius A Eunuch Of The Palace