The illusion of wealth
But wealth, someone may say, bring honor to those who possess them, and give them the power to take vengeance on their enemies easily.
Tell me, is this really a reason why riches seem desirable to you and worth striving for—that they nourish the most dangerous passion in our nature? That they lead anger on into action, and swell the empty bubbles of ambition, and goad and urge us into arrogance?
No, these are exactly the reasons why we ought to turn our backs on riches: because they let dangerous wild beasts into our hearts, depriving us of the real honor we might receive from everyone. They bring deluded men another honor that is the opposite of real honor, only painted over with its colors, and persuade them to imagine that it is the same, though really it only seems the same to the eye.
Based on Saint John Chrysostom
In the photo a monk in the Chapel of St Apostles, Vatopedi Monastery, Mount Athos
H αναδημοσίευση του παραπάνω άρθρου ή μέρους του επιτρέπεται μόνο αν αναφέρεται ως πηγή το ORTHODOXIANEWSAGENCY.GR με ενεργό σύνδεσμο στην εν λόγω καταχώρηση.
Ακολούθησε το ORTHODOXIANEWSAGENCY.gr στο Google News και μάθε πρώτος όλες τις ειδήσεις.
