St. Cyprian to the rich

The following quote comes from “On the Dress of Virgins” by St. Cyprian. It discusses how one ought to spend their wealth.

You say that you are wealthy and rich, and you think that you should use those things which God has willed you to possess.

Use them, certainly,
but for the things of salvation; 

use them, 

but for good purposes; 

use them, 

but for those things which God has commanded,
and which the Lord has set forth.

Let the poor feel that you are wealthy;

let the needy feel that you are rich.

Lend your estate to God;
give food to Christ.

Move Him by the prayers of many to grant you to carry out
the glory of virginity, and
to succeed in coming to the Lord’s rewards.

There entrust your treasures,
where no thief digs through, where no insidious plunderer breaks in.

Prepare for yourself possessions;
but let them rather be heavenly ones,

• where neither rust wears out,
• nor hail bruises, 
• nor sun burns, 
• nor rain spoils your fruits 
• constant and perennial, and free from all contact of worldly injury.

For in this very matter you are sinning against God,
if you think that riches were given you by Him for this purpose,
to enjoy them thoroughly,
without a view to salvation.

For God gave man also a voice; 
and yet love-songs and indecent things are not on that account to be sung.

And God willed iron to be for the culture of the earth,
but not on that account must murders be committed.

Or because God ordained incense, and wine, and fire, 
are we thence to sacrifice to idols?

Or because the flocks of cattle abound in your fields, 
ought you to immolate victims and offerings to the gods?

Otherwise a large estate is a temptation,
unless the wealth minister to good uses;
so that every man,
in proportion to his wealth,
ought by his patrimony rather to redeem his transgressions than to increase them.

St. Cyprian of Carthage, On the Dress of Virgins, 11