Shepherd of Hermas 48

1For to this end the Master has made you rich, that you might carry out these ministries for him; it is far better to buy such fields [and estates] and houses, which you will find in your city when you arrive in it. This luxury is good and cheerful, having no grief nor fear, but having joy. So do not practice the luxury of the nations; for it is unprofitable for you, the servants of God. Rather practice your own luxury, in which you are able to rejoice. For all luxury of this kind is profitable. But the luxury of the nations is bitter and harsh. This parable, then, is set before the servants of God, for the poor and the rich.

2‘How so, sir?’ I say. ‘Make it known to me.’ ‘Listen,’ he says: ‘The rich man has much money, but toward the Lord he is poor, being distracted about his wealth, and he has very little confession and intercession toward the Lord; and what he has is small and feeble, and has no power to go up above. When, therefore, the rich man goes to the needy and supplies him with what is necessary, believing that what he does for the needy he will be able to find as his reward from God—for the needy is rich in intercession [and in confession], and his intercession has great power with God—the rich man supplies the needy with everything without hesitation. And the needy, being supplied by the rich, intercedes for him, giving thanks to God on behalf of the one who gives to him. And that one is still more eager concerning the needy, so that he may be unceasing in his life; for he knows that the intercession of the needy is acceptable and rich before God. Therefore both complete the work: the needy performs the intercession in which he is rich, [which he received from the Lord;] this he renders to the Lord for the one who supplies him. And likewise the rich man without hesitation provides to the needy the wealth which he received from the Lord. And this is a great work and acceptable with God, because he understood concerning his wealth and worked for the needy out of the gifts of the Lord and fulfilled the Lord’s ministry rightly. Therefore, among people the elm seems not to bear fruit; and they do not know nor understand that, if there should be a drought, the elm, having water, nourishes the vine, and the vine, having unceasing water, gives double fruit, both for itself and for the elm. In the same way also the needy, interceding with the Lord on behalf of the rich...