Detachment of the Heart from the World

By Archdeacon Habib Guirgus  

Do not let your heart slant toward the world, get attracted to it, love it, and hang onto its vanity; but release yourself from its fancies or urges, and be free.

Let everything in the world be as nothing to you. St. Paul said: "The appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away" (I Corinthians 8:29-31).

If you make God your portion, taste the sweetness of faith, feel the consolation, and let your heart be quenched by His love, you will never love the world or what pertains to it.

Concentrate and search: you will never find a person who enjoys the world and attains happiness. Let us say, for the sake of discussion, that you possessed everything, and considered yourself so special such that there is no one like you, isn't the end your grave and the tomb your house, where you will be naked?

Therefore, put away all worldly attachments, which seems to cause relaxation or pleasure; for how unfortunate and wretched is the hour that your heart adhered to the world!

How anxious does it feel to have a great burden, toil and anxiety!

On the other hand, how happy is the time that you thought of God to make Him your portion. You will feel peaceful and at ease, and anguish, grief, and worry will turn away from you. Weariness and boredom will leave you, so the attraction and ornamentation of the world will not attack your tranquility and happiness.

The path of the world is narrow even though it seems spacious; for it does not feed the person's desire, nor does the person's lust suffice.  But Jesus' path is spacious, joyful and delicious!  Happy is the man who walks in it.

Stand far from the world and do not be attracted to its ornamentations and delusions, for the world talks to you in a soft, sweet and mild way; it calls you in a loving way; and seduces and entices you in a deceitful way; but it lies to you and brutally attacks you, although it shows you life as a fresh rose, which, when you get close to pluck it, you only find thorns!

Be firm and steadfast in Jesus, and hope for eternal life in Him alone, so your heart will be free from any attachments to the things of the world.

What will the world give you in comparison to what the Lord will grant you?

The world has nothing worthy to love - nothing is more worthy of love than Jesus.

Needless to say, there is no doubt that the world will pass away, and it is fraught with temptations and pain "We know that we are God's children, and that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one" (I John 5:19).

It is difficult to reject the things of the world, as compared to resisting other temptations; so do not be afraid or dreadful at the beginning.

Fight and struggle, and avoid your lusts. Forget your agony, and let your example be the ship that rifts the waves of the sea, and the waters will not threaten it.
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world-the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches-comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever" (I John 2:15-17).

O, my heart, why are you striving for happiness in this world, when you know that there is no peace or joy in it?  It is all an illusion, and vanity is calling you to love the world. The misery, unhappiness, fatigue and pain of the world will not depart from you, while worry and anxiety will constantly be by your side.

Search and look, is there anything, for any reason, worth clinging onto the world's edge?

Do you find anyone other than Jesus worthy of your faithful love?  Therefore, do not let your heart be concerned about anything of this world, such as:
( Money is where "moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19).  Money is vile and is not capable to satisfy an immortal spirit, which was created in the image of God and according to the likeness of God (cf. Genesis 1:26, 27).

Honor, which does not last, for man, though in honor, does not remain.

Friends - the heart of man is changeable, and they cannot save you.

Truly, the hopes of this life are vain and turbid. Look at Jesus alone, and be attached to Him only, for He feeds your soul, and satisfies all your needs according to His riches in glory. He will never let you down in tribulations, and will not leave you defeated. However, He will be your fortress at all times and places, being your unbroken shield, for "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

Do not depend or rely on any person, regardless of his friendship and love, for all men are weak, and all will taste death.

Do not be anxious or dreadful if someone became your enemy, whether he was beloved to you or was always an enemy; for men are changeable as the wind and time - they are constantly changing.

Put your trust in Jesus, and your dependence on Him alone, for no one in this world has rest, and you are but a stranger in this life.

O my soul, you will be full of grief and will be gloomy; your misery and depression will not depart from you, and your tears will not be wiped away, until you find rest in God alone, who is in everything and above all things.