Thu, 09/02/2010 - 20:12 — tallen
Oh, how small a portion of earth will hold us when we are dead, who ambitiously seek after the whole world while we are living!
--Philip of Macedon, (382-336 BCE)
P.1581 - §4 (140:8.17) Jesus frequently warned his listeners against covetousness, declaring that "a man's happiness consists not in the abundance of his material possessions." He constantly reiterated, "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" He made no direct attack on the possession of property, but he did insist that it is eternally essential that spiritual values come first.
P.1822 - §3 (165:4.8) Then, as the people went down by the river to witness the baptizing, the first man came privately to Jesus about his inheritance inasmuch as he thought Jesus had dealt harshly with him; and when the Master had again heard him, he replied: "My son, why do you miss the opportunity to feed upon the bread of life on a day like this in order to indulge your covetous disposition? Do you not know that the Jewish laws of inheritance will be justly administered if you will go with your complaint to the court of the synagogue? Can you not see that my work has to do with making sure that you know about your heavenly inheritance? Have you not read the Scripture: `There is he who waxes rich by his wariness and much pinching, and this is the portion of his reward: Whereas he says, I have found rest and now shall be able to eat continually of my goods, yet he knows not what time shall bring upon him, and also that he must leave all these things to others when he dies.' Have you not read the commandment: `You shall not covet.' And again, `They have eaten and filled themselves and waxed fat, and then did they turn to other gods.' Have you read in the Psalms that `the Lord abhors the covetous,' and that `the little a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked.' `If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.' Have you read where Jeremiah said, `Let not the rich man glory in his riches'; and Ezekiel spoke truth when he said, `With their mouths they make a show of love, but their hearts are set upon their own selfish gain'."
Jesus sent the young man away, saying to him, "My son, what shall it profit you if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul?"
Philip II of Macedon, was a Greek king (basileus) of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination in 336 BC. He was the father of Alexander the Great and Philip III.