“Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” – Proverbs 23:5

Macarius was born in 300 AD in Upper Egypt. He was a disciple of St. Anthony and founder of a monastic community in the Scetic desert. Through the influence of St. Anthony he abandoned the world at the age of thirty, and ten years later was ordained a priest. His fame grew and drew many followers, and his monastic settlement at his death numbered thousands. Several monasteries in the Libyan desert still bear the name of Macarius.

The wisdom of Macarius can be seen in his advice to a disciple who once asked him how to begin to live in Christ. Macarius told him to go to the cemetery and first scold all the dead, out loud, and then praise them. When he returned, Macarius asked what reply the dead had made to the reproof and the praise.

“Nothing,” the disciple answered.

Macarius said, “Go then and learn neither to be moved by praise or flattery. If you die to the world and to yourself, you will begin to live in Christ.”

One day Macarius returned to his monastic cell and found a thief stealing the few possessions he owned. He reacted calmly and even helped the thief load his donkey with the objects from his cell. As the thief departed, Macarius said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Do your possessions possess you? Today in prayer, give your heart to the Lord and do not put your hope in any earthly riches.

“I will place no value on anything I have or may possess, except in relation to the kingdom of Christ.” – David Livingstone

God’s Word: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2005, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS pkennedy6@yahoo.com