Abba Theodore of Pherme came one day to see Abba John, a eunuch from birth, and during their conversation he said to him, “When I was at Scetis, the works of the soul were our work, and we considered manual work to be subordinate; now the work of the soul has become subordinate and what was secondary is the chief work.’A brother questioned him saying, ‘What is the work of the soul which we now consider to be subordinate, and what is that which was subordinate and which we now consider to be our chief work?’ The old man said, ‘Everything you do as a commandment of God is the work of the soul; but to work and to gather goods together for a personal motive ought to be held as subordinate.’ Then the brother said, ‘Explain this matter to me.’ So the old man said, ‘Suppose you hear it said that I am ill and you ought to visit me; you say to yourself, “Shall I leave my work and go now? I had better finish my work and then go.” Then another idea comes along and perhaps you never go; or again, another brother says to you, “Lend me a hand, brother”; and you say, “Shall I leave my own work and go and work with him? If you do not go, you are disregarding the commandment of God which is the work of the soul, and doing the work of your hands which is subordinate.’
