When Corinth was besieged by Philip of Macedonia, everyone was involved in the defence of the city. Some repaired the walls; others threw spears and shot arrows. Diogenes, the philosopher, became active too. He rolled his barrel to and fro on a street. Asked why, he replied, “Well, I don’t want to be the only lazy one among so many who work.”

“But the others do something useful for the city, which is not your case,” he was told.

Solemnly, Diogenes continued to roll the barrel. He considered the work of others as useless as his own. Corinth and the Macedonian empire would pass away, regardless of who won this particular battle. The soldiers of both sides would soon die, the victors as well as the vanquished. After a few centuries, who would care about the details of the battle? Is there anyone today who remembers the names of those combatants? The citizens of the city were busy with things which, in perspective of eternity, will prove to have been as much vanity as the rolling of the barrel.

In this world, where everything passes away, there is one thing that stands: it is what Christ the eternal One did for us on Golgotha. Other works ultimately will be of no avail. The cross of Christ saves sinners, imparting to them the eternity that the Son of God possesses.

Concerning the cross of Christ, John Chrysostom said: “It is the will of the Father, the honour of the Son, the joy of the Spirit, the jewel of angels, the assurance of the faithful.”

Don’t scorn those who spend their time in amusements, when the earnest labour you take pride in will bring no better results for eternity. Serve Christ, the crucified and resurrected. This is the only work that is not vanity.

By Richard Wurmbrand

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Steve