Saints were people of an unusual self-denying, humble and they despised possessions. This is the reason why, on the contrary, they had great gracious power over people.

Those who love themselves usually reject other people. Caught in the sin of loving possessions, they irritate the lust of power of others and lose therefore the possibility to influence them. Those who’ve lost power of their own soul, how can they reign over the others? Don’t seek for power, and God will give it to you, be the master of your own sins, and when time will come, He will give you power over your brothers, for their own good.

(Translated from Arhimandrit Serafim Alexiev, Tâlcuire la Rugăciunea Sfântului Efrem Sirul, traducere din limba bulgară de Gheorghiță Ciocioi, Editura Sophia, București, 2011, p. 48)