He who loves God will certainly love his neighbor as well. Such a person cannot hoard money, but distributes it in a way befitting God, being generous to everyone in need. (Maximos the Confessor)

Money is a problem if it is hoarded. Money is a vehicle of grace if it is distributed "in a way befitting God."

This insight is fundamental to the tension between spiritual and material; on this Maximos and I can agree.

The material world God has given us is beautiful, good, and true. We can engage this grace perversely, is also true.

But if we approach the material world in a way befitting God, we can through beauty better understand what is good, and through knowledge of what is good we can edge closer to the truth.

The journey begins and ends with love for God and neighbor.