More than the entire world

What is beautiful and well-made belongs to the world
and cannot comfort those who want to live a spiritual life.
There is no wall that will not eventually be torn down.
One soul is worth more than the entire world.
What must we do for the soul?
We must begin spiritual work.
We must have only the right kind of concern.
Christ will ask us what spiritual work we have accomplished,
how we helped the world in spiritual matters.
He will not ask what buildings we made.
He will not even mention them.
We will be held accountable for our spiritual progress.
I want you to grasp what I am trying to say.
I am not saying that one must not construct buildings,
and not construct them well,
but one must take care of the spiritual life first
and then mind the rest,
and do all that with spiritual discernment.

Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain

“Remember who your teachers were…”
2 Timothy 3:14