We are not in this world merely to live in this world. Our real life begins in the next life. Sinless enjoyments are not wrong, and at times can be necessary – though, they can be harmful when overused. But nearly all the worldly pleasures that surround us are dangerous and distracting from what our true focus should be. The one who remembers and reflects often on the unavoidable reality that awaits us all - death, will enjoy the pleasures of this world in the amount that they deserve.

A pious king was one day asked by his brother why it was that the king took so little part in worldly pleasures. The good king answered, "My dear fellow, imagine that I were to put a rotten plank across a deep pit, very deep, and at the bottom of this deep pit there was a great fire burning, and you were forced to go and stand on that plank. Then suppose that I set four soldiers around you with lowered bayonets that almost touched you, while directly over your head hangs a sharp sword, suspended by a single thread.

And while you stand there, I then have the choicest meats and delicacies placed before you, and I position a band close by to play the most enlivening music. Could you really enjoy your food and listen with any pleasure to the music while you were in such a position?"

The young man, who had listened attentively to this unexpected discourse from his brother, answered without hesitation: "No, it would be quite impossible to be merry if I were surrounded by so many dangers."

The loving brother looked deep into the other's eyes and said, "Now think - if you could not enjoy anything on that plank because you saw that you were in constant danger of death, how can I take pleasure in anything worldly, when I see that my soul is threatened by a far greater danger, that of eternal death? I have below me the fire of hell; I stand on the rotten plank of my frail body; death might strike me at any moment; and over me the sword of eternal justice is suspended."

These words greatly affected the king’s brother. The young man recognized their truth and wisdom, and from that time onward he changed his life for the better.