Phortas

Abba Phortas said, “If God wants me to live, He knows how He will provide for me. But if He does not want it, what need have I of life?” Even though he was confined to bed, he did not accept things from everyone. He used to say, “If someone brings me something and not for God’s sake, I have nothing to give him in return, nor will he receive a reward from God, because he did not bring it for God’s sake; and the one who brought it is harmed. Those who are devoted to God and look to Him alone must be so reverently disposed that they do not even regard anything as an insult, even if they are wronged ten thousand times.”