16 But neither let the consideration, dearest brethren, restrain and recall the Christian from good and righteous works, that any one should fancy that he could be excused for the benefit of his children; since in spiritual expenditure we ought to think of Christ, who has declared that He receives them; and not prefer our fellow-servants, but the Lord, to our children, since He Himself instructs and warns us, saying, “He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Also in Deuteronomy, for the strengthening of faith and the love of God, similar things are written: “Who say,” he says, “unto their father or mother, I have not known you; neither did they acknowledge their children, these have observed Your words, and kept Your covenant.” For if we love God with our whole heart, we ought not to prefer either our parents or children to God.
And this also John lays down in his epistle, that the love of God is not in them whom we see unwilling to labour for the poor. “Whoso,” says he, “has this world's goods, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels from him, how dwells the love of God in him?” For if by almsgiving to the poor we are lending to God— and when it is given to the least it is given to Christ— there is no ground for any one preferring earthly things to heavenly, nor for considering human things before divine.
Source: The Treatises of Cyprian (New Advent)