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Wealth, power, celebrity, luxury and all this crowd, daily multiplied by our foolishness, did not come into life with us and did not leave with anyone. On the contrary, what was said in ancient times by the righteous in the reasoning of every person is certainly and has force: naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I will return (Job 1:21) (1). We are commanded to observe justice and equality in the judgment of slaves. Do not commit violence because you are in power; do not covet, because you are strong; on the contrary, since you have the advantages of power, then show the rights of justice. It is not in what you are not able to do that you can provide proof of obedience and fear of God, but in what you have the power to transgress and do not transgress (1). "And let him reign." It is not said: “Let us create man in Our image, and let them (people) show their passion, desire, sorrow.” It is not the passions that are contained in the image of God, but reason, the ruler of the passions. And let them have dominion over the fish... (Gen. 1:26). As soon as you were created, you were already created to be a ruler. And let them rule... Having received power from the emperor for one year, as man from man, mortal from mortal, having received (it) from the poor, what kind of power of the soul does a person acquire? You have received from God (power), which is not written on tablets or sheets doomed to be eaten by worms, but nature itself carries within itself the Divine word: let them rule - and this is all about human power. “Let them have dominion over the fish, over the beasts of the earth, over the birds of the air, over the livestock, over the creeping things that creep on the earth.” He did not say: “Let us create man in our image and likeness, and let them (people) eat from every fruit tree that has fruit on it.” In second place should be placed those related to the body, in first place - those related to the soul. The main thing that is destined for you is the power of power. You are a man, a being who rules. Why are you enslaved by passions? Why do you neglect your dignity and become a slave to sin? Why are you turning yourself into the property of the devil? You are called to be the ruler of creation, but you throw away the nobility of your nature. Are you called to be a slave (1 Cor. 7:21)? Why are you upset about the slavery of the body? Why don’t you appreciate the power given to you by God, the fact that you have reason, the ruler of passions? When you see that your master (mind) is a slave to pleasure, and you yourself are a slave to your body, then know that you are a slave only in name, and he (mind) has (then) purely nominal power, but in fact is in pure slavery. You see how he drags out his existence with a harlot; are you not the Master of passion, and not the slave of the pleasures you have rejected? Therefore, “Let us make man, and let them rule” (means): where the power of power is, there is the image of God (3). The higher authorities must be obeyed in everything that does not interfere with the fulfillment of God's commandments (4). He who has received the power to distribute work must give orders, taking into account the ability and strength of the person being used for work, so as not to hear about himself: creating a burden contrary to the command (Ps. 93:20). However, the one who received the order should not contradict, because the limit of obedience is obedience to death (5). You might be interested in: