By St. Basil the Great

This book was highly recommended to me several years ago. I was happy to finally read it, and I’m excited to recommend it to others. Most of this book concerns moral decision making around money and the culpability of the rich. And it is harsh on the rich.

He rails hard against hoarding wealth, lending (and borrowing) at interest, and ignoring the plight of anyone who is hungry in a society: “Whoever has the ability to remedy the suffering of others, but chooses rather to withhold aid out of selfish motives, may properly be judged the equivalent of a murderer.”

He also neatly addresses common defenses for keeping money, e.g. being married and saving for children, or hoarding so that you can give away later: “Acts of charity made from unjust gains are not acceptable to God, nor are those who refrain from injustice praiseworthy if they do not share what they have. […] Why do you make your offering an abomination, attempting to show mercy to one poor person by offering what you have taken from another through injustice?”

If you have any kind of debt: read Dave Ramsey. After you’re out of debt: read St. Basil the Great.