The first thing is the blessing and obedience to the commandment of God. As it was said about Joseph the Upright in his prosperity: “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man” (Gen 39:2). And that: “The Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand” (Gen 39:3). Search for the prosperity that comes to you from God, from God’s fellowship with you in your work, or from God’s gift for you, or as a reward from God for obeying His Commandments. Remember the Lord’s saying to Joshua the son of Nun: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Josh 1 :8).
The Spiritual Man makes God first in obedience. And says with the Apostle: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). The commandments of God first, then people’s request, then our own wishes. The spiritual Man makes obedience to men in the bounds of his obedience to God. But, if they contradict, God ought to be obeyed first.
His spirit will find rest by obeying God and God will find rest in his obedience. God finds rest in the hearts that believe in Him, that love Him, that do His will and obey His commandments, like the angels “Who do his word, heeding the voice of his word” (Ps 103:20). The spirit of the spiritual man finds rest in the communion of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 13:14). So he does not do anything without having the communion of the Holy Spirit in it. Our spirit finds comfort when she says to God in every work: “Let it be according to Your will”. By that she rests and gives rest. How beautiful is what has been said about the Prophet Moses that he made all things according to the pattern shown to him on the mountain (Heb 8:5).
The spiritual man controls himself concerning obedience. Obeying the parents, obeying the confession father, obeying orders, keeping time and before all, obeying God. He does not see that submission would lessen his dignity at all. Submission is an evidence of humility and humility is a virtue. The person who does not submit to anyone is definitely submitting to his pride.
(From: H.H. Pope Shenouda, The Spiritual Man, COPT publisher)
