Church Fathers, Day Seventy-Two: St. John Chrysostom tells us to use the gifts God gave you rightly

Use the gifts God gave you rightly

God gave you wonderful tools and abilities, says St. John Chrysostom. But it’s up to you to use them the way God meant them to be used.

Look: you were given an eye, so that you could look at the creation and glorify the Master. But if you do not use the eye well, it becomes a servant of adultery to you.

You were given a tongue, so that you could speak well, so that you could praise the Creator. But if you don’t take good care, it becomes a cause of blas­phemy to you.

You were given hands so that you could stretch them out in prayer. But if you don’t look out, you stretch them out in greed.

You were given feet, so that you could run to good works. But if you’re care­less, you’ll use them for wicked works.

You see, all things hurt the weak man. Even the medicines of salvation kill the weak, not because of their own nature but because of the patient’s weakness.

–St. John Chrysostom, Homily 2 on the Power of Demons, 3

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

How have I used the gifts God has given me today?

Is God pleased by what I’ve done with my eyes, tongue, hands, and feet?

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, I thank you for all the good things you have given me. Make me worthy to offer you gifts from your own abundance.

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