Woe to those who think themselves rich in money, spirit, and experience; for they, in fact, are foolish, haughty, and thieves. God alone is the Rich, the Possessor, and the Wise. He who does not repent before God, and becomes broken to his haughtiness belongs to those who think themselves rich, but are poor.
What would you ask in exchange for your left eye, if someone blind came to you asking you to give him your eye that he might recover? Would you deliver your eye for one thousand, or hundreds of thousands? Do you realize the full extent of your riches? The value of your body equals to millions, and you have not yet thanked your Lord for creating you. We are all God’s possession, and agents of his properties. He who lives without God falls into hell, for he is a thief, inasmuch as he did not return the deposit to its owner. Whoever lives without God does not find rest for his conscience, or comfort for his heart, for mammon became his god. He becomes out of health, and death lurks about him. Woe to the rich that are poor, and blessed are the poor that are rich in Christ. To which these two parties do you belong?
Christ says, "Woe to those that are gluttonous and drunkards who suppress the cries of their hungry souls with wine and roast meat without listening to the plea of the poor beggar. Woe to fornicators and sodomites out of whose bellies flow unclean lusts, who tread on their, and on others’ consciences. They will run after the word of God, but they will not find it. They will seek comfort with demons, with the dead, and with fortunetellers. They will gradually fall into hopelessness more and more. The tables that are filled with food, and the warehouses that are filled with grains and metals are not the riches of people, but the word of God alone. The blessing of this word can open the poor nations. Those that are hungry will soon attack those that are filled and fasten them to crosses to enjoy themselves with their wealth before them.
Did you ever hear a drunkard laughing? He behaves without restraint, showing his corruption from within. Did you ever listen to your friends or co-workers laughing at dirty jests? A dirty jest is like a nail inside your soul. It will torment you if you are unable to give up completely your impurity, out of yourself. Did you ever see how those that are strong and triumphant mock and smile sarcastically at those whom they defeated? They are all subject to death. Their loud bursts of laughter stop in their throats when they realize that the seed of death was within them at all times. Did you prepare yourself for your death? Moses taught us the wise prayer, saying, "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
The most heinous deception in mankind is hypocrisy. People say one to another that they are smart, good, talented, and pious. They believe this flattering compliment, smile, and bow one to another, acknowledging applause and expressing thanks, for each one of them considers himself as a minor god. Such are demons. They do not know their sins, for none is righteous, beautiful, and wise except God and his Anointed. Repent, and call to repentance. Let peacocks pack their feathers, and wolves take off the lamb furs, seeking the death of their wolfish heart that they may be filled with the spirit of meek lambs. What are you, then: haughty, or lowly in grace?