St. Augustine Comments on the Worries of the Wealthy

Quite timely in light of the events in the financial world this past week (and likely more turmoil on the way), don’t you think? It’s all about priorities.

Who is happy? You say, “The man who has everything in abundance and seeks nothing more.” But is he not afraid of losing what he has? How then can you say that he wants for nothing? He many not lack possessions but he does lack security in them. And who in this world can give him the assurance that what he has will not be destroyed? Many a man has gone to sleep rich and awakened a pauper. No one can give him such security. A sensible person knows this and is therefore afraid.

–Sermon 359A, 6