Do not envy sinful people - Salvation of Sinners

Animals, such as cows, that are raised in order to be slaughtered and butchered are allowed to graze and eat freely, and they are fed to be fattened. Conversely, animals that will be used for work or provide some service to man are trained, disciplined, and kept an a strict diet. This is what God does as well. He allows malicious people in this present life to grow fat as they indulge in carnal pleasures and sinful enjoyments because
such unfortunate people will finally end up in eternal Hell.



On the contrary, He tests and disciplines virtuous and righteous people in order to keep them in His heavenly mansion forever. Fruit-bearing trees that yield a crop and produce a bountiful harvest are pruned, they are sprayed with pesticides, and have
heavy weights attached to the end of their branches, which bend and pull the branches
downward. All these harsh measures, however,
are conducive to the tree bringing forth fruit.


Conversely, trees that do not produce fruit and are of no value to man are neither pruned nor clipped like fruit-bearing trees. However, once such trees grow and reach maturity, they are cut down,
completely uprooted from the ground, and subsequently used as firewood. This is what happens with man in this world as well. Virtuous people who produce useful and good works receive sorrows and lashes, whereas the
Righteous Judge does not punish evil and sinful people here because He is waiting to consume them eventually in the fire of Hell.



The prosperity and good fortune of ungodly people is actually a severe misfortune! For when such people observe nothing bad happening to them and that they are not punished in any way, they shamelessly and impudently proceed to carry out even greater sins and worse crimes. 



Furthermore, when such a person remains
undisciplined, it is a sign that he will be punished and condemned, because the enemy does not disturb or assault his own friends. Thus it is apparent, just as we have illustrated above, that the more God loves someone, the more He allows one
temporarily, and for the time being, to experience discipline that is beneficial and ultimately life, saving for the soul.

from The Salvation of Sinners

Concerning Pride ( The Salvation of Sinners )

The more you boast and gloat in your accomplishments, the more you will be disdained and ignored by God, Who opposes the proud, and Who disperses the minds and hearts of all who are conceited: “He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts” (Lk. 1:51).

Humility is the greatest of all gifts; conversely, pride stands as an obstacle to all good things, and it serves as the root of all transgressions.
In order for this evil to be cured, the Lord oftentimes permits us to fall into grave
mistakes and commit serious sins. Our all-wise Physician would certainly not permit this to take place if pride was not the worst and most
severe of all wrongdoings. The Prophet and King David once asserted pridefully, “I said in my prosperity I will never be shaken” (Ps.29:7);
that is to say, “I will not sin.” And so, in order to humble him and cure him of this pride, the Lord consequently permitted the prophet to commit adultery and murder.

 When the Lord foretold the Apostles that they would all abandon Him and flee as soon as the Jews apprehended Him, the Apostle Peter boasted in this manner: “Even if all the other Apostles abandon You, I will never leave you even if I have to lay down my life for Your love.”
(cf. Mt. 26:33-35).

On account of this haughtiness, the Lord permitted Peter to deny Him three times, so that he may subsequently humble himself, lament his weakness, and no longer think highly of himself. Similarly, many virtuous hermits dwelling in the desert, who cast out demons from people and
performed awesome signs and miracles later fell into grave and terrible sins. 

Whoever reads such accounts will be startled and certainly humble himself wholeheartedly.
Since the Lord permits people to fall into such
sins in order to cure their pride, it is obvious that pride is the worst of all sins. Oftentimes, God
also permits people to be falsely accused and slandered for crimes they have not committed in order to make them more humble. Additionally, He may send them various sorrows so that they do not end up becoming prideful, just as the Apostle Paul attests: “There was given to me an angel of
Satan to flog me, so that I do not boast on account of the many revelations I have received”
(cf. 2Cor . 12:7).

from the book
The Salvation of Sinners

https://www.stnektariosmonastery.org/en/index.php 

Do not have confidence in your wealth...

Do not take pride in your education and wisdom because these are of no help to you, unless your
knowledge helps to improve your conduct and way of life. If the knowledge you acquire does not increase your love for God, then it actually
becomes a cause of greater blindness for you.


When darkness covered the entire land of Egypt, there was broad daylight for the servants of God:
“And there was thick darkness in all the land
of Egypt for three days. No one saw his brother for three days; nor did anyone rise from his bed
for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings”(Ex.10:23).


When a person is void of the love of God, even if he happens to be the wisest of men, he will always
remain and walk in the darkness—for only the love of God enlightens the mind. In the absence of this light, even if you possess the wisdom of
Solomon, you will walk as the Egyptians within darkness.


Do not have confidence in your wealth or in any other temporary thing because all such things
deteriorate and become worthless. A judge who makes a verdict without first listening to both parties lacks common sense.


If you have a preference for the things of this
present world, it is because you have not seen the heavenly and divine things through the eyes of
our precious faith. They who love earthly
pleasures praise and vote in favor of the world, and they choose the earth’s clay and dirt because they have never wanted to hear the other side, the testimony of the spirit.


Thus, they value and desire worldly things
because they have never seen or experienced
the things of God. When someone tastes the grace of the Spirit, he then despises the flesh; and when someone adequately experiences the grace of God, he henceforth completely disregards all the pleasures of the flesh.


Therefore, do not be overcome by the sensual pleasures of the flesh lest you become similar to the animals,as the prophet David states:
“Man, being in honor, did not understand; he is compared to the mindless animals, and is become like unto them”(Ps. 48:20).


In other words, man, who was created with so
much honor and nobility by God, did not
understand the purpose for which he was created; rather, he became like the irrational animals. He did not perceive what lies ahead (i.e. the bitter
end of worldly vanity). He only paid attention to and was captivated by the momentary honor and pleasure that was in front of him, without
considering and taking into account the future retribution that awaited him. 


from the book The Salvation of Sinners