The Golden Saying Of Epictetus, II

How then do men act? As though one returning to his country who had sojourned for the night in a fair inn, should be so captivated thereby as to take up his abode there.

"Friend, thou hast forgotten thine intention! This was not thy destination, but only lay on the way thither."

"Nay, but it is a proper place."

"And how many more of the sort there may be; only to pass through upon thy way! Thy purpose was to return to thy country; to relieve thy kinsmen's fears for thee; thyself to discharge the duties of a citizen; to marry a wife, to beget offspring, and to fill the appointed round of office. Thou didst not come to choose out what places are most pleasant; but rather to return to that wherein thou wast born and where wert appointed to be a citizen."-Epictetus

Besides that, they learn to be idlers, gadding about from house to house, and not only idlers but gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
I Tim. 5:13

3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place;
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, `Why do you stand here idle all day?'
Mat. 20

I cannot imagine that many of us have ever thought about this message. Probably because it is not a major problem in day to day life, but I do still think it is good to be conscious of it. That said I will only look at the positive side of things. This is a magnificent gift from God to put it simply It is only right to work on our own miniature empires to the glory of God. If we live intentionally poorly what is it at all that we can do before God? Even though I don't believe it is necessary to have a marriage and children I will say get married (to the glory of God), beget offspring (to the glory of God), and build an empire and thank the Lord for it.