Why do you beat the air and run in vain? 
Every occupation has a purpose, obviously. 
Tell me then, what is the purpose of all the activity of the world?
Answer, I challenge you!
It is vanity of vanity: all is vanity. 
St. John Chrysostom
Comments
4 responses to “St. John Chrysostom”
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wealth becomes anobstacle even for those who do not devote themselves to it.I am not sure that I believe this. The lack of wealth still seems to me to present serious problems–like how do I buy my kids breakfast or get gas to get to work.Financially insecurity is different from a lack of wealth…
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In the matter of piety, poverty serves us better than wealthSomething that I think I missed the first time through this was that we are only speaking of piety.Piety, practiced without responsibility can lead to suffering. Tempering piety with responsibility is very difficult, primarily because of the problem of self serving thinking and an inability to determine the current priority–keeping things simple, in context, and flexible may be the key to this.
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we accomplish these things not by spending money butby making the correct choice.A very good way to define accomplishment–making the right choice. Such an easy way to define it, and yet the simplicity masks a deep reasonableness. One accomplishes much by making the right choice.
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The widow who paid in the two miteswas poorer than any human, but she outdid them all.I like the \”last guy\” aspect of this–in America, there is always someone who has it worse than you–but what if you are the \”Last Guy\” who has it worse then everyone else. To avoid being the last guy just give it away.Brilliant.
David Given Schwarm 
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