Against the persecution of a tyrant the godly have no remedy but prayer.
John CalvinRead
If we believe heaven to be our country, it is better for us to transmit our wealth thither, than to retain it here, where we may lose it by a sudden removal.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Investing in the spiritual or eternal will yield greater benefits than hoarding material wealth in the temporal world.
John Calvin's quote emphasizes the importance of focusing on spiritual wealth instead of material possessions. He suggests that since heaven is our true home, we should prioritize our investments in matters that have eternal significance rather than clinging to earthly wealth that can be lost unexpectedly. This reflects a philosophical viewpoint that encourages individuals to evaluate what truly matters in life and to act accordingly, aligning their priorities with their beliefs about the afterlife and spiritual values.
Themes
HeavenWealthSpiritualityInvestmentMaterialism
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon about prioritizing spiritual wealth, this quote perfectly encapsulates the message.
More from John Calvin
All quotes →The pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both.
John CalvinRead
Man is never sufficiently touched and affected by the awareness of his lowly state until he has compared himself with God's majesty.
John CalvinRead
Whomever the Lord has adopted and deemed worthy of His fellowship ought to prepare themselves for a hard, toilsome, and unquiet life, crammed with very many and various kinds of evil.
John CalvinRead
For as the aged, or those whose sight is defective, when any book, however fair, is set before them, though they perceive that there is something written, are scarcely able to make out two consecutive words, but, when aided by glasses, begin to read distinctly, so Scripture, gathering together the impressions of Deity, which, till then, lay confused in our minds, dissipates the darkness, and shows us the true God clearly.
John CalvinRead
When God wants to judge a nation, He gives them wicked rulers.
John CalvinRead
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