Avoiding False Hope and Pride
Thomas a Kempis teaches that true peace and happiness come from humility and trusting in God's grace, rather than in human things or personal accomplishments.
Thomas a Kempis preaches on the importance of not placing trust in worldly things or human abilities, but rather in God's grace and provision. He emphasizes humility, urging listeners to serve others out of love for Jesus Christ, to be content with seeming poor in the world's eyes, and to avoid boasting in personal achievements or possessions. Kempis highlights the value of recognizing God as the ultimate giver of all good things, encouraging a mindset of humility and gratitude in all aspects of life.
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VAIN is the man who puts his trust in men, in created things.
Do not be ashamed to serve others for the love of Jesus Christ and to seem poor in this world. Do not be self-sufficient but place your trust in God. Do what lies in your power and God will aid your good will. Put no trust in your own learning nor in the cunning of any man, but rather in the grace of God Who helps the humble and humbles the proud.
If you have wealth, do not glory in it, nor in friends because they are powerful, but in God Who gives all things and Who desires above all to give Himself. Do not boast of personal stature or of physical beauty, qualities which are marred and destroyed by a little sickness. Do not take pride in your talent or ability, lest you displease God to Whom belongs all the natural gifts that you have.
Do not think yourself better than others lest, perhaps, you be accounted worse before God Who knows what is in man. Do not take pride in your good deeds, for God's judgments differ from those of men and what pleases them often displeases Him. If there is good in you, see more good in others, so that you may remain humble. It does no harm to esteem yourself less than anyone else, but it is very harmful to think yourself better than even one. The humble live in continuous peace, while in the hearts of the proud are envy and frequent anger.
Sermon Outline
- Avoiding False Hope
- Humility and Trust in God
- Avoiding Pride
- Maintaining Humility
- Not thinking oneself better than others
- Esteeming oneself less than others
Key Quotes
“Vain is the man who puts his trust in men, in created things.” — Thomas a Kempis
“Do not be self-sufficient but place your trust in God.” — Thomas a Kempis
“The humble live in continuous peace, while in the hearts of the proud are envy and frequent anger.” — Thomas a Kempis
Application Points
- Place your trust in God's grace and not in human things.
- Serve others for the love of Jesus Christ and not for personal gain.
- Maintain humility by esteeming yourself less than others and seeing more good in them.