Daily Meditation: Thursday, July 4, 1996

It happens sometimes that young people tell me about their …

07/04/1996

It happens sometimes that young people tell me about their plans for the future, doing a job where they will earn lots of money, because, they add, this will allow them to help others. And do you think I am filled with wonder at these words? Well no, not at all. Because I always see something very personal lurking behind these – apparently generous – intentions. Those who talk like this do not know what spiral they are getting caught up in, and once they have taken that initial step into this spiral, soon their whole being will be caught up in it. If you start making your life's aim to make a lot of money, you must realize that you are burrowing down into matter and that one day you will be so engulfed by it that you not only soon forget you wanted to help others, but you also may become selfish and hard. People are full of good intentions, but matter is a big trap for the children of God to fall into. You will say: ‘So, what should we do? Do we give up the idea of achieving material success?' No, but first you must strengthen yourself spiritually for many years. Only then can you seek material success without fear of losing your way.