St Cyril of Alexandria on wealth and poverty

I came across this the other day:

This then I think is a man’s being faithful in little, that he have pity upon those who are in need, and distribute assistance from his means to such as are in extreme distress. But we, despising a way thus glorious and sure of reward, choose one dishonourable and without reward, by treating with contempt those who are in utter poverty, and refusing even sometimes to admit their words into our ears; while, on the other hand, we luxuriously provide a costly table, either for friends who live in pomp, or for those whose habit it is to praise and flatter, making our bounty an occasion for indulging our love of praise. But this was not God’s purpose in permitting us to possess wealth. (Commentary on the Gospel of St Luke, Homily 109)

Clearly, St Cyril thought that the only good reason to be wealthy was so that we might give away our wealth to those in need. He certainly has no time for the selfish enjoyment of wealth. This is recurring feature of patristic authors, cf. St Ambrose of Milan and St John Chrysostom.