Goddess of Money Lakshmi. God of wealth among the Greeks. Ancient Greek gods of wealth. Gods of money, wealth and luck in Greek mythology
Lakshmi.
Have you ever heard of the goddess Lakshmi? She is an Indian goddess with many virtues associated with her name, such as beauty, peacefulness, knowledge, love... Besides, Lakshmi is also a goddess prosperity, happiness, prosperity, luck, success and the grace of heaven... Her name in translation from Sanskrit means "happiness".
Legend has it that Lakshmi emerged from a lotus flower floating on the surface of the pristine waters of the ocean. The lotus flower symbolizes purity and wealth, spiritual and material. Therefore, Lakshmi is always depicted either on a lotus or holding a lotus.
Lakshmi is considered the goddess of Love, Beauty and Well-being. And even there is an opinion that when a person begins to get rich, they say that Lakshmi settled in his house, and if, on the contrary, there are only continuous failures, Lakshmi left him.
So how do you get in touch with this goddess of prosperity? There are several ways. One of them is meditation, the second is chanting mantras with the mention of the name of the gold-bearing Lakshmi. You can combine chanting with meditation. This will surely bring beneficial fruits in your life, you will see their influence very soon.
If you just keep the image of Lakshmi in the house, then well-being will also appear, but maybe not so soon than when used together with mantras and meditations.
Ganesha.
Ganesha is an elephant-headed Indian god of Abundance. It is considered patron of business, god of wealth, who removes obstacles from the path of those who strive for success.
The appearance of Ganesha may not be pleasant at first sight. The head of the animal and the squat, thick body somehow do not go together very well. But Ganesha is the patron saint of people of a subtle mind who are not deceived. external appearance... Whoever is unable to see the Divine in Ganesh becomes a victim of the rational mind, which is the greatest obstacle to spiritual development.
Ganesha is depicted as squat, with a large belly, four arms (sometimes six, eight, and maybe even sixteen) and the head of an elephant with one tusk. In three hands, he holds an ax, a lasso and, sometimes, a shell. The fourth hand can be depicted in the "bestowing gifts" gesture, but most often he holds a ladda - a sweet ball of pea flour. His small eyes shine like gems... He sits on a rat, or she accompanies him. According to legend, the rat was once a demon, but Ganesha tamed it and made it his mount. This demon symbolizes vanity and audacity. Thus, Ganesha conquers deceitful vanity, pride, selfishness and insolence.
There is an opinion that what bigger size there will be a figurine of Ganesha, so more money he will bring. So, decide for yourself what size to buy Ganesha.
Talisman Ganesha can be made of various materials. It can be semi-precious stones, copper, bronze or wood. But no matter what material the talisman is made of, the main thing is a respectful attitude towards Ganesha. In India, where Ganesha is especially revered, there are many plastic figures.
It is better to put a bronze statuette of Ganesha in the West, North-West metal sectors or on the right hand at your workplace. Then he will symbolize the help of friends and wealth. You can also put a bronze Ganesha in the career sector, since metal generates water - money.
And the wooden Ganesha should be located in the wealth sector or in the family sector. Then your money will grow.
To enhance the effect of helping Ganesha, you need to scratch his tummy or right palm. You can also put Chinese coins or sweets next to him - Ganesha loves offerings very much and will certainly delight you with pleasant surprises.
In addition to using the talisman of Ganesha itself, it is recommended to repeat the mantras addressed personally to him. This will grant you purity of intent, good business, and all kinds of prosperity.
Hotei or Laughing Buddha
Hotei is the god of Wealth, fun and prosperity. In fact, at one time there was such a monk, Buddha, who wandered through the villages, and with him joy and happiness came to the villages. Behind his back, Buddha dragged an impressive sack, and when asked what was in it, Buddha replied that he had the whole world there. Amazing, right?
Those who revere him believe that his tote bag symbolizes a huge amount of money and precious stones. Some believe that his impressive belly symbolizes wealth. From this they conclude that the larger the Buddha's belly, the more powerful he is.
They say that in order to enlist the help of Hotei, he needs to stroke his stomach every day. And if you rub Hotei's figure on the stomach exactly three hundred times, thinking about yourself cherished desire, be sure: your wish will come true. Therefore, stroking the belly of the Laughing Buddha has become a habit of many Chinese businessmen.
Others believe that the Laughing Buddha is the Buddha of Happiness, because nothing gives him more joy than collecting all worldly misfortunes in his bag. This is the reason for his fun: he takes what he loves more than anything else - the problems of other people.
According to Feng Shui, you should put the Hotei figurine in the living room, preferably with his gaze directed to the front door; and the figurine should be as big as possible. The presence of the Laughing Buddha will have a beneficial effect on any room, since it is believed that the image of this deity emits positive Qi (). Moreover, Hotei is able to absorb all the negative and deadly Qi inside the house, he is a good antidote to the annual invasion of flying stars, bringing sickness and loss with them.
If you decide to purchase a Hotei, choose a figurine made from a material that will not disturb the harmony in the place where you are going to put it, or from the material considered most favorable for you. As for the Hotei figures, they can be golden or white with various attributes.
If in the hand of your Hotei on a staff of ginseng pumpkin, gourd and a bunch of six ancient Chinese coins of happiness- it promises you financial well-being, success, happy long life, cleanliness family relations and the welfare of your descendants. Peach is a symbol immortality, gripped in his left hand, promises long years healthy life. If Hotei holds fan- means out of your way with all obstacles rush complicating your path to your cherished goal. When Hotei with walks in a pyramid, among coins and golden sand then such presspapier calms down the "workhorse", helps to concentrate, tune in to a working mood,- and of course, earn more... Sometimes you can meet Hotei with magic pearl in hand. It is a symbol and material and spiritual wealth... If Hotei holds rocker, and on it - a coin of happiness and a basket of gold bars, this is justified expectation of great wealth, a necklace (it depicts the hieroglyph "Fook") - Promise Happiness and luck... When Hotei is portrayed with dragon, this is a guarantee of attracting solid capital, successful business development or the opportunity to open your own business with the attraction of serious financial investments.
The pose of the Hotei figurine doesn't really matter, but take your time and choose the figurine you like the most. Whenever you feel depressed, pat the Laughing Buddha's tummy and look into his eyes. You will find that his joy is contagious and his smile will cheer you up.
Jambhala - God of Abundance of Tibetan Buddhists
Tibetan Buddhists believe in the existence of the gods of Abundance who help those in need. One of these gods of Abundance is Jambhala. According to legend, if you correctly place the figurine of this god of Abundance under a cascade of overthrowing water, your home will never lack anything.
Buddhist Jambhal, as a rule, have a stern expression on their face; they always hold a mongoose in their hands, from whose mouth precious stones, gold and other wealth are poured.
There are five different Jambhal:
Green Jambhala is usually depicted with his consort;
The yellow Jambhala is usually depicted as seated;
Black Jambhala is usually depicted standing;
White Jambhala is usually depicted riding a Dragon;
Red Jambhala is usually depicted looking like the Hindu god Ganesha.
In order to lure Jambhala with his mongoose bringing jewelry and gold, it is necessary build a waterfall that will pour down its waters on the crown of this god... This ritual will bring prosperity to your home.
If you build the Jambhala Abundance Waterfall with respect and reverence, you will not only receive material benefits, but you will also be able to spiritually enrich yourself, understand your soul and true purpose on this Earth - and this is sometimes more important than the first.
Guan Gong
Guan Gong is the god of wealth and war. The glory of this commander eventually grew into a religious cult. In addition, he is the protector of the oppressed, and in recent times- the defender of politicians and businessmen.
Merchants have always revered Guan Gong as the God of Wealth - if you do business or work in the trade, take note! But remember: Guan Gong is considered the god of wealth when he is depicted as a civilian official. If he is wearing a military uniform, this is already the patron saint of warriors, as well as a pacifier of evil spirits.
There are many different options Guan Gong. His figurine is usually made of porcelain or wood, and he can assume a variety of poses. He can sit on a horse, on a throne, or simply stand in an imperative position. The sterner Guan Gong's face, the more powerful he is considered. The most influential is Guan Gong of the Nine Dragons, depicted with nine dragons on the body and five flags with a dragon on the back.
Placed in a home or office, a figurine of this deity will provide its inhabitants peace and tranquility, will protect the breadwinner and grant all inhabitants fantastic luck and prosperity.
The power of the deity Guan Gong will reach its climax if you place him in the northwest part of the house. The figurine should look at the front door so that the deity, as it were, was watching everyone entering and leaving the house.
It is believed that if all kinds of executives and businessmen place a Guan Gong figurine behind their workplace, they will never be denied support. influential people... They will rarely be removed from their posts - symbols of power and might.
You don't have to worship Guang Gong. According to the teachings of Feng Shui, all you need is a picture of this deity in your home or office.
Three Star Elders
The three star elders are the three Chinese deities that bring Health, Wealth and Prosperity... Star elders Fu, Lu and Shousin are used as Feng Shui talismans all over the world. They are not gods in the religious sense of the word, they are just symbolic deities. Images of star elders are used in Feng Shui one by one or all together.
But the elders depicted together are considered a more auspicious symbol, bringing great luck and prosperity to the house.
To activate this talisman, the figures of the star elders are placed in the place of the house where the whole family most often gathers, either in the health sector or in the sector of assistants. Elders personify the three most common aspirations in Feng Shui: Health, Wealth and Prosperity.
The Elder of the Stars named Fu enjoys great popularity in Asian countries. His figurine symbolizes great luck, which, when it comes to your home, brings money, abundance, joy to it and makes you truly happy. And if you look at traditional Chinese panels, you will see how often they depict either the old man of the stars Fu, surrounded by mountains of coins, or the hieroglyph "Fu" and one hundred variants of its writing - as a symbol of hundreds of wishes for prosperity and happiness.
Star Elder Lou, often depicted with a child in her arms or surrounded by children, this is the god of Prosperity, Abundance and procreation. His figurine will bring you money wealth on long time... If he is depicted with a scroll and a scepter in his hands, these are symbols of strength and power, symbolizing family authority and worthy heirs.
Star Elder Shousin- the god of health and longevity. You will distinguish a Shawsin figurine by a staff made of ginseng root and a peach - symbols of immortality. In China, it is customary to give a Shousin figurine to men as a sign of the inexhaustible source of their strength.
Ebisu and Daikoku
Ebisu and Daikoku are gods Happiness and luck, walking hand in hand. Ebisu and Daikoku can be portrayed separately, but when they are together, it symbolizes harmony between spiritual development and material wealth. If I may say so, this is especially for those who fear that, having become richer, they will become more callous.
Ebisu is the god of happiness and good luck, as well as trade (which is especially important for everyone who is engaged in trade), serves as a talisman of achievement harmony, helps in choosing a life partner, protects the house from betrayal and betrayal. Ebisu is depicted with the sacred fish Tai - a symbol of good luck and spirituality.
To activate the talisman, place the Ebisu figure next to the water. This can be an aquarium, a fountain, or just a vase of water.
Daikoku is one of the seven gods of happiness. This is a great talisman wealth and prosperity... In addition, this deity acts as the patron saint of the hearth and protects the house from all kinds of unfavorable energy.
The Daikoku figurine is easy to recognize: he is depicted with a sack, a sacred mallet and a rat. The sack and the rat in this case do not scare you - these are symbols of abundance. The bag contains wealth, and the rat will only start in a rich house: in a poor one, it simply has nothing to eat. The bag itself is filled with magic rice, and when the rat gnaws holes in it, the rice spills out right into your hands. Daikoku dances and taps with the sacred mallet, that is, forges happiness: with each of its strikes, there is more happiness and prosperity in the world. So let him knock with a mallet to your health!
Activating this talisman is very simple: love it and watch the magical Daikoku dance more often, then your concern for it will be rewarded with the enhanced action of the talisman, which will ultimately bring you wealth, happiness and prosperity.
And if Shousin, Ebisu and Daikoku are placed at once by the three of them, then this means that before your eyes there is a triple talisman at once: a wish for great luck, prosperity and longevity.
Pi Yao
Pi Yao is one of the most powerful protective talismans, which has the ability to keep out of the house evil people and adverse energies. Pi Yao is usually depicted with the face of a lion dog, which has one horn, hooves, small wings and a tail. The most auspicious image is considered to be Pi Yao, who sits on coins and protects the welfare of his owners, and also has the ability to increase it. According to legend, Pi Yao has a huge appetite, which encourages savings.
Where is the best place to put the Pi Yao talisman? Since it is, first of all, protective talisman, then it should be placed in those places that are amazed negative energy Sha: sharp corners, opposite towers and peaks, various ledges - always facing outward. If you can see the sharp corner of another building from your window, then put Pi Yao on the windowsill, facing the street. If you travel often and leave the house unattended for a long time, then the best place for Pi Yao would be about front door or in the hallway. Thus, Pi Yao will guard and protect your home. It is not recommended to put the Pi Yao figurine in the bedroom.
Also, if you are in business, then Pi Yao will be for you irreplaceable assistant... He will protect you from the onslaught of competitors and help you grow your wealth... There are even special shops in China that specialize in selling only this mascot.
To activate Pi Yao and enhance its protective properties, the talisman needs to ring a bell once a week or once a month burn a large candle next to it.
According to Chinese traditions, in order for the house to have happiness, money and luck, it is necessary to put a pair of Pi Yao, since this talisman is a pair. You can buy one figure or a pair. Choose for yourself! This talisman, even in a single performance, is considered very powerful and effective.
Sun Wu-Kun or the Monkey King
Sun Wu-Kun or the Monkey King is a popular hero in Chinese folklore and painting. In Feng Shui, the image of the monkey king is used as a talisman that brings health, success and protection. Unlike western culture, the image of a monkey in Asia is considered a symbol of resourcefulness, talent, intelligence and success. Therefore, the Chinese love and appreciate him so much.
If you are engaged in some kind of martial arts, then the image of Sun Wu-kun is your talisman. Because, according to legend, Sun Wu-Kun is the ancestor of the monkey style in wushu. This talisman will add strength, agility and speed of movement to you.
Activating this talisman is not difficult at all. It is necessary to periodically make offerings to him in the form of fruits and sweets.
A bit of history. The Chinese adopted the image of a divine monkey from India, where there was a cult of a monkey deity. The Chinese tell the following about the rise of the Monkey King. A monkey hatched from a stone egg under the influence sun rays... Then, in search of food, she met the teacher Xuan Zang, who revealed to her the essence of the universe and told the secrets of transformation. But the monkey gained immortality by cunning and became impudent and uncontrollable. And only Buddha managed to stop her. Sun Wu-kun was locked up for 500 years under the mountain, and according to the Buddha's sentence, a righteous man traveling in search of sacred books had to release him. Xuan Tsang freed him and became his protector, for which he was included among the Buddhas under the name of the Victorious Buddha.
Plutos
Among the huge number of Greek gods, there was also a god of wealth. His name is Plutos. Initially, perhaps, he was one with the underground god Pluto, because there are so many treasures and riches in the earth. But later it is mentioned that Plutos was the son of Demeter, the goddess of fertility. There are a huge number of sculptures, dishes and other objects of art dedicated to Plutos.
DemeterThe goddess Demeter was the daughter of the titan Kronos and Rhea, the sister of Zeus, the mother of Persephone. Demeter was the Greek goddess of fertility and agriculture, the main goddess for peasants working in the fields, forests and arable lands. The Greeks believed that without the permission of the goddess, nothing grew anywhere. Demeter taught people agriculture, gave them necessary knowledge and tools for work. Only with her permission did bread and other crops ripen. If a woman wanted to be fertile, she had to constantly pray and make sacrifices to Demeter, and then the goddess could really endow this woman with fertility. During the sowing season, the Greeks held a great feast in honor of the goddess, at which they sacrificed to her.
The Legend of King MidasThe Greek gods have always had an ironic attitude towards wealth. This is shown most vividly in the story of King Midas. He asked Dionysus to turn everything he touches into gold. Over time, the blessing turned into a curse. Absolutely everything, even the food became golden in the hands of the king. He could starve to death, so he asked Dionysus to relieve him of this curse.
MercuryBy the way, there was also a place in the pantheon for the goddess of poverty - Singing. For the Romans, the god of enrichment was Mercury, who was also responsible for trade and profit. He defended trade caravans and some merchant colleges. Of course, all the statues depicted Mercury with a tightly stuffed wallet. Mercury also helped treasure hunters and sometimes indicated the location of the treasure.
JunoThe Romans also had a goddess of motherhood and marriage, Juno. Money was minted in her temples. Also, this name can be often found in European languages.
God of Jews and ChristiansV Hebrew Bible there was only one God who endowed his chosen ones with wealth and prosperity. They were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. Also, at one time, the tribes of Israel were famous for their enormous wealth.
At any given time, there was a man endowed with wealth and health from God. Wealth has been a blessing to every person who follows God. But from God came not only material good, but also spiritual food. People had not only wealth, but also longevity, respect for others and health. It was a sign of God's love, care and generosity.
Gods of Wealth in EgyptFor a more complete understanding of the gods of wealth different countries and peoples we will talk about the Egyptian, Indian and Chinese gods of wealth. As it was said, in every culture and religion there is a deity who is responsible for the prosperity and enrichment of people. This applies not only to material values, but also has a direct bearing on spiritual ones. So, for example, in Egypt, the god who brings wealth and prosperity is Hapi. This God of the Nile is also considered a savior and brings salvation to those in need. In many of the drawings depicting Egyptian gods, Hapi is clothed in robes. Also, as a special symbol that distinguishes it, there is a wreath made of lotus. Another god of Egypt who is responsible for wealth is the god Shai. His name can be translated from Egyptian as "destiny" or "destiny".
Prosperity gods in Indian cultureIn India, as in many other civilizations, there was a god who was engaged in patronage different kinds activities. Trying to give people the opportunity to become wealthy and prosper, he helped and protected from various problems and worries those who wanted to achieve some kind of success. Ganesha, has the head not of a person, but of an animal, namely an elephant. It should be noted that his image does not make a positive impression at first sight. The reason for this is the elephant's head and rather short stature. Plus, the image is complemented by four arms. Many people worship this god even today and ask him to bring prosperity to the home. For greater effect, you can purchase a figurine with his image. There is an assumption that its size directly affects how much income you can expect. It is important to note that the figurine itself can be made from various materials... So, copper, wood are widely used, along with this it can be made of bronze.
Gods of prosperity in ChinaIf in many other cultures, the god of wealth was either one, or there were two of them, then in China there are much more of them. So, for example, seven gods can be distinguished, some of which are more related to the culture of India, some are related to Japan, all of them are considered deities who protect and patronize any kind of activity. These include the god Ebisu and the god Daikoku, along with this, the god Bishamon can be distinguished, who is also responsible for the development of business and its prosperity. The Chinese people believe that by making sacrifices correctly, the gods can hear all prayers and give a person the wealth that is of special value to him.
Namsarei and Ganesha
Namsarei(Skt. Vaishravana) - The God of Wealth, who sits on a snow-white lion. His large, rounded body is yellow-gold in color, and his expression is angry. In its right hand he holds the banner of victory, and in his left is a mongoose, an animal associated with wealth and wealth, which regurgitates precious stones. Vaishravana is also known by several other names such as Dzambala, Kubera or Nam that srai in Tibetan. He also manifests as the Maharaja (Great King) of the North named Sri Vaisravana. In this aspect, he is often depicted in outer walls monasteries and temples, together with three other defenders of the main cardinal points, as a protector from all negative and bad. It must be said about the popularity of this deity among believers. But moreover, it is important to emphasize that even when wealth and possessions are used for noble purposes, the main thing is motivation (intention), which determines whether such an act of generosity is true or not.
There is a story like this:
“One day, a rich man invited Shakyamuni and his disciples to his palace to pay their respects. For several days he made preparations, and when the time of the great day came, a huge number of people gathered from all over the area, who came to receive the light of the Awakened One. Buddha and take part in the festival. The rich man became very pleased with himself and decided: “Now my reputation as a generous host will grow many times!” Among those who came to this sumptuous feast was a beggar. He looked into the hall through the doorway, holding his palms folded in prayerful reverence, and thought, “How wonderful to be able to make such a magnificent offering to the Blessed Buddha! I rejoice in all the merit that this rich man received through his generosity and devotion. "At the end of the holiday, when all the offerings were made, those present asked the Tathagata to say. Further, they say, the Buddha did not even mention the name of this rich man who offered food, knowing for sure what was going on in his mind, how this act lifted his pride and desire for worldly glory. But instead, Buddha called by name and spoke of the positive motivation of that poor beggar. "
Usually Vaishravana is depicted with eight auspicious symbols - a gold fish, a shell, a precious vase, a lotus flower, a wheel, a banner of victory, an eternal knot, and an umbrella - those attributes that Buddha received after his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. These symbols are very popular among all believers and can be found not only in monasteries, but also in many homes of the laity. They can be painted on walls, carved from wood, or even made from precious metals... Besides their obvious decorative function, these eight symbols are an auspicious omen of spiritual and material well-being. The meaning of the eight auspicious symbols can be summarized as follows:
The two goldfish represent liberation from the ocean of samsara. Just as fish are not afraid of the raging waters of the deep ocean, so a person walking the spiritual path follows it without distraction and is not afraid of the vicissitudes of life.
The white shell, the spiral of which is wrapped to the right, symbolizes with its sound that to announce the Buddha's enlightenment to the whole world. And therefore, the shell symbolizes the ability of all living beings to enlightenment from the sleep of ignorance.
An endless rain of long life, health and prosperity is poured from the precious vase, available to all beings who follow the Dharma (Teachings of the Buddha).
The lotus flower represents spiritual purity and compassion and symbolizes the impeccable actions of body, speech and thought towards good luck and enlightenment.
The eight-spoke golden wheel is known as a symbol of the Dharma itself, where the spokes symbolize the Buddhist eightfold path of right vision, right thinking, right speech, right action, right livelihood attainment, right effort, right mind training, and right concentration. The wheel represents the movement of the Dharma from place to place, awakening the Buddha potential that all living beings have.
The banner of victory, which is installed on the top of the sacred Mount Meru (Sumeru) in the center of the universe, declares the victory of the Dharma over the forces of ignorance.
The eternal knot, also known as a sign of good fortune, can be interpreted in many ways. One of the meanings is to represent the endless circle of existence; other meaning - complex connection between wisdom and compassion in achieving Buddhahood; as well as endless love and harmony of complete awakening.
Finally, the umbrella, a symbol of royalty, represents the protection from evil influences that is bestowed upon by compassionate Buddhas.
Ganesha- This is the Indian god of Abundance with the head of an elephant. He is considered the patron saint of business, the god of wealth, who removes obstacles from the path of those who want to achieve success.
Ganesha is depicted as squat, with a large belly, four arms (sometimes six, eight, and maybe even sixteen) and the head of an elephant with one tusk. In three hands, he holds an ax, a lasso and, sometimes, a shell. The fourth hand can be depicted in the "bestowing gifts" gesture, but most often he holds a ladda - a sweet ball of pea flour. His small eyes shine like jewels. He sits on a rat, or she accompanies him. According to legend, the rat was once a demon, but Ganesha tamed it and made it his mount. This demon symbolizes vanity and audacity, and Ganesha, as it were, conquers vanity, pride, selfishness and insolence.
The fact that money is a phenomenon not only of socio-economic life, but also of the spiritual sphere has been known for thousands of years. The Holy Fathers of the first centuries of Christianity wrote and spoke about this in an interesting and deep way. You can quote them endlessly. It is interesting that even Karl Marx, who is considered to be a complete materialist, wrote not only about the economic functions of money, but also about the fact that money under capitalism became a real god, and a god who began to quickly supplant all other gods and acquired the status of a world god: “Money is the jealous god of Israel, in whose face there should be no other god. Money brings down all the gods of man from above and turns them into a commodity. The God of the Jews became worldly, became the world god. " According to the classic of Marxism, money was once the god of only one tribe - the Jews. And in the era of victorious capitalism - the whole world. Marx says that "money brings down all the gods of man from above and turns them into a commodity." Money makes no exception, even for God with a capital letter - for Christ. Moreover, they are primarily trying to overthrow exactly Christ, since He and only He prevents money (or rather, the owners of money) to establish world domination. The above lines were written by Marx in 1843. If, in his opinion, money was already a world god in those days, what can we say about today?It is interesting that today both ardent opponents of capitalism and consistent adherents of the mammon church speak about the spiritual and religious nature of money. No religion can exist without God. And the religion of money as well. I would like to know more about this god. We know that in Christianity the main thing is the dogma of God as the Holy Trinity, and its understanding is extremely difficult. Understanding the dogma about the "divine nature" of money also requires a certain mental effort, since the god of money has several spiritual "hypostases". There are three such "hypostases", in their unity and inseparability they are the very "jealous God of Israel."
We want to emphasize that the religion of money has always existed, and in the most ancient times. But then she was in the "catacombs"; if not persecuted, then at least it was not recognized as a state, official religion. In general, it existed as a marginal secret sect. Today the "religion of money" has become a global religion.
This is how N. V. Somin describes the process of transformation of the “religion of money” into a global, universal one: “At all times, wealth has trapped people in a disastrous trap. But now something mind-boggling is happening. The passion for possession and enrichment has developed to such an extent that it has become a whole religion - the religion of money. And the religion is total, so to speak, nationwide. The thirst for money seized everyone - young and old, men and women, hard workers and loafers. Earlier, albeit at the very least, the state tried to serve order and justice, art - beauty, science - truth, sport tempered the body, medicine healed, literature taught goodness and morality, the elite strove for the greatness of the country, the army defended the fatherland, The media covered the life of society; finally, the economy fed and clothed those in need. Today all this remains, but upside down - everything serves only as a way of enrichment. And the benefits are manifested only by chance, as by-effect profit process. Mamon bought everything, crushed everything under himself. Now the meaning of the apostolic words has been revealed with particular clarity: "the root of all evil is the love of money" (1 Tim. 6:10). "
Thus, the religion of money is an all-pervading and very “active” religion.
First, it is guided in their practical life by people representing all strata of society (employers and employees, young and old, Christians and representatives of all other official religions without exception, sick and healthy, men and women, etc.). Even very lazy and careless people have become disciplined and diligent followers of the "religion of money" (which has never been observed and is not observed in the official traditional religions).
Secondly, the "commandments" of the "religion of money" are strictly fulfilled by people in all spheres of life: in production, in trade, culture, sports, art, politics, the media, school (primary, secondary and higher), science, the army, law enforcement agencies , the state apparatus, etc. Surprisingly, the "commandments" of the "religion of money" today have begun to be regularly observed even in the church fence (Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish and even Orthodox churches).
The commandments of the "religion of money" are well known to everyone and are extremely simple: kill, deceive, testify perjury, envy, hate, steal, etc. It is not necessary to advertise your "piety", fanatical devotion to mammon. The commandments can be fulfilled in secret, so that those around you do not even suspect about your devotion to mammon. Thus, you will fulfill the commandment: "deceive." The most important commandment: a consistent adherent of the "religion of money" should not have any other gods except mammon. He should only worship mammon. Mamon is a jealous god and does not forgive flirting with other gods. Especially with Christ.
N. V. Somin writes: “Mammon carefully monitors the worship of herself and gives wealth to those who have fallen behind. And vice versa, from those who do not want to bow down, he takes away the means of subsistence, throws them out of society, leaves them to die of starvation ”1.
So what is this deity named "mammon"?
Mysterious creature "mammon"
The first hypostasis: Money as a creature named "mammon", whom people worship, whom they respect and at the same time fear.
Historians claim that the god of mammon comes from ancient Syria, and then the ancient Jews began to worship him. "Mamon" means "treasure" in Aramaic (ancient Syriac). This word (name) has become common and does not require translation in those countries where Christianity has become widespread. Christians and all educated people are well aware of the words of Jesus Christ: “You cannot serve
God and mammon ”(Luke 16:13). The word "mammon" is mentioned several times in the New Testament (Matt. 6:24; Luke 16: 9, 11:13).
Note that almost every nation had its own god of wealth and money. In the pre-Christian period, the god of wealth appeared under the very different names... For example, in the ancient Greek pantheon, the god of wealth was called Plutos (hence - "plutocracy" - the power of wealth). Probably, at first he did not separate from the god of the underworld Pluto, who was in charge of the wealth of the earth's interior. One of the inhabitants of the Greek Olympus was Hermes. He patronized trade and sent wealth. It is known from mythology that he possessed eloquence, resourcefulness, cunning; often resorted to deception and theft.
Among the ancient Romans, the god of trade, profit, and enrichment was Mercury, which was very similar to Hermes. His name comes from the words "commodity", "trade" (hence the modern words - "mercantile", "mercantilism"). Protected by the Temple of Mercury in Ancient rome there was a guild of merchants, Mercury provided merchants with commercial profits. The purse was an attribute of Mercury. This god, according to the beliefs of the ancient Romans, helped to find treasures. In the pantheon of Roman gods, Juno Moneta occupied a special place - the patroness of the money business (in the temple of this goddess there was a courtyard for the minting of metallic money, which began to be called "coins").
The ancient Slavs have one of the main pagan gods- Veles. He is the patron of livestock, wealth, the embodiment of gold, the guardian of merchants, herders, farmers and hunters. All the lower spirits obeyed him.
In China and other countries of the East, the number of gods responsible for wealth, money, trade, luck in different business enterprises, numbered in tens, if not hundreds.
The word "mammon" is well known to today's followers of Judaism. It is found in the Talmud. The attitude towards mammon in Judaism is very positive. Of course, in Judaism, as a monotheistic religion, mammon is not a god, but is considered as a kind of “spiritual” principle that brings the Jew closer to God. Modern Jewish Kabbalists talk about mammon. They pay attention to the fact that in gematria numerical values the words "mammon" ("wealth, money state") and "prom" ("ladder") coincide. At the same time, they recall the ladder that is mentioned in the Torah (Book of Genesis) and which stretched from earth to heaven in the prophetic dream of Jacob, the founder of the twelve tribes of Israel. It's weighty for them
proof that the pursuit of wealth and money has a "supreme blessing." Rabbi Benjamin Blech draws attention to this secret meaning of the word “mammon”: “Money can become the ladder that allows a person to achieve the noblest goals. The money can be used to build a temple for worship, schools for teaching children, homes for the poor and homeless, hospitals for the suffering, shelters for the persecuted. Not for us Jews, it is written that, they say, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the heavenly gates. If the rich manages his wealth wisely, his money can provide him and others with eternal blessings. "
In the modern post-Christian world, the most common name for the god of wealth is "mammon." The name mammon is often used to refer to the religion of money: this religion is called the "religion of mammon" or simply "mammonism." The term "mammonism" was introduced into the scientific and political circulation in Germany after the First World War by authors such as Rudolf Jung and Gottfried Feder. These authors and their followers have invested different meaning into the word "mammonism": starting from a certain (capitalist) model of the economy and ending with the religious and spiritual state of society that developed in the West by the beginning of the twentieth century (considering mamonism as a religion that denies and destroys Christianity).
Modern researchers of mammonism quite unanimously admit that mammon is an invisible creature that belongs to the invisible world of fallen spirits (demons, or demons) - the so-called “infernal world”. There mammon occupies a certain place in the hierarchy of demons (a special "science" called "demonology" deals with the study of this hierarchy). He, of course, is not the first person in this hierarchy, but, according to the "experts" in "demonology", he is one of the seven main demons (each of this seven corresponds to one of the deadly sins). Mamon is a multifaceted creature. This is the god of wealth, money, money-grubbing. In some cases, he can be the god of gluttony (in Russia, in the old days, the womb, stomach, womb was sometimes called mammon). At the same time, as the "experts" on demons note, mammon is a tempter and a seducer.
Note that deep knowledge about the spiritual nature of the demon named “mammon” is available only to a narrow circle of “chosen”, “consecrated” in the church of mammon. These "initiates" at their secret meetings (gatherings) deliberately worship mammon, observing all the necessary rituals. However, the figure of mammon at such "last suppers" can be replaced by the figure of the "chief" of mammon - the devil himself. Christians also know what mammon is, apart from the “dedicated” mammon to the church. Mammon is one of those who, in modern terms, "enter into the command" of demons (demons) under the leadership of the devil. The very devil who personally tried in the wilderness to tempt Christ (at the beginning of His earthly ministry) with wealth, vanity and power (Matthew 4: 1-11; Mark 1: 12-13; Luke 4: 1-13). The very devil whom Jesus Christ (at the end of His earthly ministry) called "a liar" and "a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44).
As for the ordinary members of the mammon church, the “profane,” their ideas about the nature of mammon are very vague and vague. And the name “ma-mona” may be completely unfamiliar to them (due to poor literacy and lack of reading habit, many of our contemporaries are no longer able to read the Gospel, where this “character” appears). They prefer other words and names: "luck", "success", "luck", "fortune", etc. They can offer their requests, prayers or toasts to mammon using these words and symbols. And what exactly do the admirers of mammon (both conscious and "uninitiated") want from their god? - "Grace". For them mammon is a source of "grace", which is the second hypostasis of money.
Money as "grace"
Second hypostasis: Money as "grace" emanating from the god of mammon. This "grace" is also a rather difficult concept to comprehend. Such "grace" is immaterial, like a "spirit", "energy" descending from heaven to the worshiper of mammon. This grace is sometimes called "wealth." Wealth is not only the sum of material objects that are in the property (possession) of a person. This is primarily the spiritual self-awareness of a person. He must definitely feel the feeling of his elevation above the rest. And material property is secondary here, the main thing is sensations! "Grace" fills him with unimaginable joy, it can even lead to a state of religious ecstasy.
True, the peculiarity of money in this second hypostasis is that the "spirit" must constantly arrive. The philosopher of the times of antiquity Seneca the Younger said: "There are two conditions for wealth: to have what is necessary, the second is to be able to be content with it." Explaining this thought, he added: "Not the poor man who has little, but the one who wants more." Otherwise, "grace" ceases to be "grace." If the flow of "grace" decreases, it is perceived as a gradual loss of favor from the mammon. A person can increase the number of things in his possession (possession), but at the same time feel poorer! These are the difficult, one might say, insidious laws of the spiritual life of the followers of mammon. The state of euphoria ends and is replaced by anxiety. If the flow of "grace" is interrupted, this is already seen as a terrible "punishment" from the mammon. Anxiety and anxiety develop into hysteria, madness, rage. The end of such "religious hysteria" can be suicide. We emphasize once again that "grace" has nothing to do with our material world. This is a kind of abstraction that has a numerical (mathematical) expression. For example, we can hear that as of such and such a number the wealth of the oligarch N is $ 10 billion. As a result of falling stock indices, this wealth could decline, say, by 50%. The whole material world(factories, factories, hotels, restaurants and other objects of movable and real estate) did not undergo any physical changes. However, at the same time, intangible "grace" decreased by $ 5 billion.
Or, for example, the property of the same oligarch N increased over the year from $ 10 billion to $ 20 billion, i.e. 2 times. Can we assume that he has become richer? Hard to say. If, say, in the same year, the property of his competitor, oligarch X, increased 3 times, then we can confidently say: oligarch N began to feel poorer, he felt himself abandoned by God as a mammon.
Worshipers of the mammon are afraid of the anger of this deity, because it can at any moment deprive each of them of the "life-giving" "grace" - regardless of the social status of a member of the church. The only exception is the "dedicated" members of the church, the number of whom is very small. They are demi-human demigods by nature. They not only cannot be deprived of "grace", but they themselves actively help mammon to distribute this "grace" among ordinary ("uninitiated") members of the church. The owner of a factory and an employee, the owner of a small shop and a top manager of a large corporation, a resident of the "prosperous" West and a native from a distant African country may be in the disfavor of the mammon. This is the "fear of God" that keeps in a terrible nervous tension all "ordinary" members of the mammon church. Without the "grace" of mammon (or at least waiting for it), the life of a church member loses its meaning, he just has to climb into a noose or throw himself out of a skyscraper window.
However, Christians are well aware of what the "grace" of mammon is - from the Gospel and the works of the Holy Fathers of the Church. These are temptations sent by the crafty mammon, which can inflame different passions in people. As a rule, it all starts with a passion for love of money and covetousness. However, mammon always works “in a team”, and his infernal “partners” help him, kindling other passions in the victim: gluttony, vanity, lust for power, envy, covetousness, voluptuousness, etc. And it all ends with despondency, despair, anger, sometimes - and the voluntary departure of the mammon admirer from life. Christians are well aware that mammon is just as much a "murderer from the beginning" as his boss, the devil.
Money as a fetish
The third hypostasis: Money in their material and material form. This is a visible and sensuously felt part of the "jealous god of Israel", through which an adherent of the church of mammon gradually comes to comprehend the god of money in its entirety, that is, in three guises. Once upon a time, even before the mass transition of mankind to the church of the mammon, money was material, quite properly performed the functions of a measure of value, as well as a means of exchange and payment, and had the status of a modest and executive "servant". Nevertheless, people attributed some mystical power even to such "technical" money. It is noteworthy that in the era of the triumph of historical materialism, our textbooks on political economy wrote about "money fetishism" - people's perception of material money as a mystical and unknowable principle. "Monetary fetishism is a worship of money, their deification under conditions of spontaneity and anarchy of production based on private property, when relations between people inevitably take on a material, commodity character."
The most widespread and "perfect" material form of money has always been (and still remains) gold. The possession of gold (or the desire to own gold) is irrational: this yellow metal is not very suitable for satisfying the vital needs of a person. For all its materiality, gold has a very deep and completely incomprehensible religious meaning. It is a material symbol for the god of wealth. Members of the mammon church do not just own the yellow metal, for them it is an object of religious veneration. The "Golden Calf" is a material image of the highest spiritual being - mammon. “The golden calf is in the Old Testament legends the golden (or gilded) idol of the bull, which was worshiped as the embodiment of God himself. In a figurative sense - the personification of wealth, money. "
A detailed description of the golden calf is contained in Old Testament in the Book of Exodus (chapter 32). This pagan idol, or idol, was made by Aaron (the brother of Moses, who brought the ancient Jews out of Egypt), at the increased insistence of the sons of Israel; these sons, taking advantage of the long absence of Moses at Sinai (where he communicated with God), wished to have with them some visible image of the deity. This idol was probably made in the form of the Egyptian black sacred bull Apis or the white bull of Mnevis. From the Bible it is known what severe judgment befell the worshipers of the cast calf and the idol itself. Again, the cult of the golden calf among the ancient Jews arises in the era of King Jeroboam, when a single Israeli state breaks up into the Northern, or Israel proper, kingdom and the Southern, or Judean. King Jeroboam sought to discourage his subjects (residents of the Northern State) from visiting the Jerusalem Temple, which was located in the Southern State. For this, he placed golden images of bulls in the ancient sanctuaries of Bet-El and Dan and said: “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt” (1 Samuel 12:28 ff. To the end; cf. Ex. 32 :4).
During the last century, there has been a rapid dematerialization of money, which manifested itself first in the replacement of gold with paper money, and then paper money- non-cash.
An insignificant part of modern money is paper banknotes and metal coins. Of course, this is not a full-fledged commodity money, they are signs of money, but at the same time they have some "materiality". Of course, banknotes perform such "earthly" functions as payments and settlements, capital accumulation. But at the same time they are material objects of religious worship. In fact, these are “icons” that constantly remind the holders of the banknotes of the “mountain world” where the god of mammon dwells. Today the whole world is flooded with such green “icons” called “dollars”. The occult-mystical, religious meaning of the images on these green pieces of paper is beyond doubt.
Attentive readers of Scripture have calculated that the Bible contains less than 500 verses about faith, about 500 verses about prayer, and more than 2,000 - about. Every seventh verse of the New Testament talks about money or possessions. Among the main themes of the Proverbs of Solomon and the book of Ecclesiastes is the question of how a person's well-being depends on his well-being. Almost 15% of what Jesus Christ taught is somehow related to money and property. The Lord has more conversations about property than descriptions of heaven and hell combined.
Did Jesus Protect the Rich? Or did He call for complete poverty? Currently, one can find two opposite solutions: from the theology of prosperity of the rich as "blessed by God" to the call to complete poverty, for only such is the Kingdom of Heaven. We will consider the idea that God, giving to someone on earth, not only hints at the highest heavenly good, but also, testing individuals with an abundance of benefits, gives them a chance to acquire virtues.
Wealth as a Gift to the Righteous in the Old Testament
The word "to get rich", "to enrich" in the Old Testament is conveyed by the Hebrew verb osher(עֹשֶׁר) or Greek plutizo(πλουτίζω - see: Genesis 14:23; Ps. 64:10; Proverbs 10: 4, 22). The same Greek word is also characteristic of the New Testament (see: 1 Cor. 1: 5; 2 Cor. 6: 10, 9: 11). That being said, the Greek word pluto(πλοῦτος) in Russian translations of the Bible can mean some kind of material well-being, an excess of money or goods, but almost does not mean property in the neutral sense of the word. The color of the narratives is enhanced with the addition of the indication of the “multitude”: “a multitude of wealth” (Ps. 52: 7), wealth “multiplies” or “multiplies” (Ps. 62: 10; 73: 12). So, the word "wealth" in the Bible describes a kind of abundance, an excess of the "norm" of material well-being.
The source of wealth is God. Wealth and glory belongs to God (see: 1 Kings 3:13; 1 Chron. 29: 12), the Lord makes poor and enriches, humiliates and exalts (see: 1 Kings 2: 7), takes away property from some and transfers to others (see: Gen. 31: 16). The Lord's is the earth and everything that fills it (see: Ps. 23: 1; 1 Cor. 10:26, 28).
In relation to people, the word "" is often on a par with "glory", "abundance", "wisdom", "honor" and even "life." “Humility is followed by the fear of the Lord, and wealth, and honor, and life,” says one of Proverbs (Proverbs 22: 4).
Earthly wealth is an abundance of money, fame, children, or friends. can be measured by the amount of property, the number of buildings, the area of land (see: Is. 5: 8-10), the number of livestock (see: 1 Sam. 25: 2, 3) or slaves (see: 1 Sam. 8: 11 -eighteen). Wealth can be a reward for a person for his labors: “From lazy hands - ruin, but from diligent hands - wealth” (Proverbs 10: 4); “If to any person God gave wealth and property, and gave him the power to use them and take his share and enjoy from his labors, then this God's gift”(Eccl. 5:19).
But the same Ecclesiastes, who wrote these words, grieves that the riches do not always go to rational people (see: Eccl. 9: 11). A rich man who has neither a son nor a brother does not rejoice in the wealth he has acquired (see: Eccl. 4: 8; 5:13). Wealth can even harm a person (see: Eccl. 5:12). “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord — there will be abundance and wealth in his house,” writes David (Psalm 112: 1-3). But a drunkard will not get rich (see: Proverbs 21:17); “Whoever relies on his wealth will fall” (Proverbs 11:28); wealthy man his, and not on the power of God, will lose both the dwelling place and the root in the land of the living (see: Ps. 52: 7).
Therefore, prudent is the one who is not looking for wealth, but - a good name (see: Proverbs 22: 1), who knows when to stop in pursuit of wealth (see: Proverbs 32: 4). And at the same time he asks God so that he does not suffer from poverty: “I ask you two things, do not deny me ... do not give me poverty and wealth, feed me with my daily bread, so that when I am fed up I do not deny You and say : "Who is the Lord?" - and so that, being impoverished, he would not steal and take the name of my God in vain ”(Proverbs 30: 7-9).
On the border of the Old and New Testaments, wealth was not considered an exclusive good, but at the same time, the idea bliss of the beggars- was far from the Jews.
"Woe to the rich" in the New Testament
In the New Testament, the word “wealth” seems to change its connotation. Instead of prosperity theology, Negative consequences from the influence of wealth on a person: wealth can deceive (see: Matthew 13:22; Mark 4: 14); it is a thorn and does not allow the word of God to take root in the heart of man (see: Luke 8:14).
New Testament, like the Old One, also preaches that God has a wealth of "grace" (χάριτος - see: Eph. 1: 7), “goodness” (χρηστότητος - see: Rom. 2: 4), “glory” (τῆς δόξης - see: Rom. 9:23; Eph. 3:16); “An abyss of wealth, wisdom and knowledge” (Rom. 11:33).
However, the New Testament changes the concept of what exactly is God-sent wealth. God has not just riches and glory, but the riches of the mystery that “Christ lives in us” (see: Col. 1:27).
The Apostle Paul strives for the faithful of Laodicea, so that their hearts are united in for “the riches of perfect understanding, for the knowledge of the mystery of God, which is Christ” (Col. 2: 2). Christians have “a wealth of His [God’s] glorious inheritance for the saints” (Eph. 1:18). Therefore, the apostle of tongues commands Timothy: “Exhort the rich in the present age that they do not think highly [about] [themselves] and trust not in unfaithful riches, but in the living God, who gives us everything abundantly for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6: 17 ). Only the Lamb-Christ, according to the Revelation of John, is worthy "to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory, blessing" (Rev. 5:12). Therefore, only those treasures that are gathered for the Kingdom of Christ are genuine wealth for people living on earth.
So, you have to sell everything and become a beggar?
Does this mean that we all, without exception, should, as a rich young man, sell our property and start living in Christian communes? Life Ancient Church, following the book of Acts, showed that such experiments are not always successful (see: Acts 2: 44; 4: 32; 6: 1). Let's look at this issue from a different perspective.
V Holy Scripture Much is said about material wealth and it is made clear that “a person's life does not depend on the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). It is obvious that God owns all wealth, He is the creator and owner of everything that exists (see: Ps. 50: 10-12).
In the Old Testament, wealth was a sign of God's favor to man (see: Psalm 112: 3), a blessing (see: Gen. 24:35). God gave the power to acquire wealth (see: Deut. 8:18). Both piety and wealth were inherent in the righteous Job (see: Job 1: 1-3). Solomon was very rich, God gave him "wealth, property and glory", because Solomon asked for wisdom and discernment in the management of God's people, and not for personal material benefits (see: 1 Kings 3: 10-13; 2 Chron. 1 : 11-12).
Of course, not all rich people were good people. Nabal was “very rich,” but he was rude and cruel, mean and wicked (see: 1 Samuel 25: 1-38). The well-to-do king of Tire was the subject of God's judgment (see: Ezek. 28), and many other rulers of the world fell under the same condemnation. In the book of the prophet Isaiah, the prophecy about the Messiah even connects the rich with the wicked: “He is buried with the wicked, next to the rich is his grave, - although he did not commit crimes, and there was no lie in his mouth” (Isa. 53: 9).
And in the New Testament they are insane, who built granaries for many years (see: Luke 12: 16-21); a rich man who loved to feast brilliantly and did not notice the beggar Lazarus (see: Luke 16: 19-31). The rich are condemned for being greedy and oppressing their workers (see: James 5: 1-6). In the Gospel of Luke, sorrow is ascended to those who have already received consolation on earth, suppressed by everyday pleasures and worries, who have no time to come to the marriage feast of the Father and the Son (see: Luke 6:24; 8:14, etc.).
But not all the rich were bad. Jesus was buried in the tomb of the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea (see: Matthew 27: 57). Nicodemus, one “of the rulers of the Jews” (3: 1), generously forked out for a composition of myrrh and scarlet for the burial of Jesus (see: John 19:39). A number of women constantly served the Lord with their possessions (see: Luke 8: 1-3). Not to mention the fact that in the parables of Jesus God gives people talents and mines for multiplication (see: Matthew 25: 14-30; Luke 19: 11-26), sets over all possessions those prudent stewards who timely distribute servants bread (see: Matthew 24: 45-47; Luke 12: 44). Large and small monetary sacrifices allow you to maintain the temple and everything needed for worship (see: Luke 21: 1-4).
If God did not set the boundaries of property for people, the tenth commandment of Moses, prohibiting encroachment on someone else's property, would be meaningless.
Consequently, speaking in modern legal language, the problem is not in the ownership of property, but in its skillful disposal. It's a sin not to be rich, but hopeful for wealth (see: Mark 10:24), not giving glory to God, preferring to serve mammon (see: Matthew 6:24). Woe is not just the rich, but the now jaded, lazy and crafty, drunkard, who leads a dissolute lifestyle, evil and stingy, cruel, the one who does not pay employees on time wages and strangles debtors for late return of loans (cf. Matthew 18:30 ). Woe to him who grossly offends the poor and multiplies his wealth at their expense (Proverbs 18:23; 22:16).
So, the root of all evil is not money, but the love of money, indulging in which some deviate from faith (see: 1 Tim. 6: 10), because (see: Col. 3: 5).
Can wealth be a virtue?
Ecclesiastes sighed: when "wealth multiplies, so are those who consume it" (Eccl. 5:10). 21st century economists like to joke: "Increasing incomes increasing needs."
Indeed, the more money a person has, the more these desires to spend on something: an apartment, furniture, good vacation… The list is long. Imagination quickly draws at least a thousand different pleasures. This applies not only to wealthy people, but also noticeably to the poor, whose profitability for a moment exceeded the bar commensurate with them. Let us recall Pushkin's fairy tale about the fisherman and the goldfish.
In the teachings of the desert fathers of antiquity, one can find whole line stories that monks had no problem with spiritual growth until they found some kind of treasure. Moved by initially good goals, missionary for example, not all of them could skillfully dispose of money. Some began to spend on themselves, on luxury, gourmet food and recreation, and then spiritually perished.
The same can be said about the clergy, who, in pursuit of patrons in expensive clothes with gold rings, committed the sin of partiality, forgetting that it is the rich who often dishonor the Christian name, oppressing the poor and conducting legal proceedings with them (see: James 2 : 2-7).
The gospel evangelism, like the Old Testament, constantly emphasizes that the righteous should not pursue wealth. “Better is a poor man who lives blamelessly than a rich man whose ways are perverse,” wrote the author of Proverbs (Proverbs 28: 6). Don't worry, “What do we have? or what to drink? or what to wear? " (Matthew 6: 31), for "a person's life does not depend on the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 15: 15); "What good is it to a man if he gains the whole world, but hurts his soul?" (Matthew 16:26; cf .: Ps. 48: 7-14) - Christ constantly spoke.
But if God has already given wealth as a gift or talent, then they must be disposed of prudently, without burying it in the ground.
This concerns mutual assistance. For the Apostle Paul, Christians differ from other people in that in the midst of many severe trials they are overwhelmed with joy and “in extreme cases, they are rich in generosity” (2 Cor. 8: 2). “In addition, I will say,” wrote the apostle, “whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly; but whoever sows abundantly will reap abundantly. Give each according to the disposition of your heart, not with grief or compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver ”(2 Cor. 9: 6-7).
This also applies to temple worship. Moreover, here, too, for each has its own measure. From the widow, Christ expects two mites, while from the rich - according to the degree of their prosperity (see: Luke 21: 4).
Generosity for rich and poor is a special virtue that kills the addiction to wealth. The rich are able to give work to the working people, through the rich - God gives the poor bread. Generosity brought salvation to the entire family of Zacchaeus (see: Luke 19: 9); the poor thank God for sending them the help of the rich (see: 2 Cor. 9: 8-11). “To the poor he lends to the Lord; and He will reward him for his good deed ”(Proverbs 19:17). Generosity sanctifies the one who has money, but greed also defiles the poor.
According to Clement of Alexandria, three degrees of generosity can be distinguished: first - to give only to certain categories of petitioners (one of the "little ones", a prophet or a righteous man - see: Matthew 18:10; 10: 41-42); the second is to give to everyone without distinction (“give to everyone who asks of you” - Luke 6: 30); the third is to seek out the needy yourself and organize affairs (“ acquire friends with unrighteous wealth ”- Lk. 16: 9).
“Therefore, whoever owns property,” notes Clement of Alexandria, “and gold, and silver, and houses,” as a gift from God, and with his riches, the giver of all good things to God, serves for the salvation of souls, and who knows that he owns this more from for his fellows, rather than for himself, who is the master of his property, and not its slave ... and is constantly busy with some kind and Divine deeds. And if it happens that these things should be deprived, then with calm spirit and indifferently parted with them, just as he was cold-blooded to possess them, the Lord glorifies him as blessed and calls him a beggar in spirit (Matthew 5: 3), a worthy heir of the Kingdom of Heaven. "
So, wealth itself is not a sin or a virtue. - this is not the rate of income per capita, but - an excess, an excess of benefits in relation to one individual person and the standard of living customary for him. By increasing the level of well-being, God actually throws a person into a test. A prudent one who has properly disposed of his surplus will receive a reward, and a careless one will also lose what he thinks to have.
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