Contempt for All Earthly Honor
True peace and strength can only be found by despising worldly things and seeking union with God.
Thomas a Kempis preaches about the importance of not being affected by the honor or contempt of others, encouraging listeners to focus on lifting their hearts to God in heaven to find true peace. The disciple acknowledges their own sins and the need for humility, recognizing that true praise, honor, and glory belong to God alone. To achieve spiritual enlightenment and union with God, one must be willing to be despised and forsaken by every creature, considering themselves as nothing in comparison to God.
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THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, do not take it to heart if you see others honored and advanced, while you yourself are despised and humbled. Lift up your heart to Me in heaven and the contempt of men on earth will not grieve you.
THE DISCIPLE
Lord, we are blinded and quickly misled by vanity. If I examine myself rightly, no injury has ever been done me by any creature; hence I have nothing for which to make just complaint to You. But I have sinned often and gravely against You; therefore is every creature in arms against me. Confusion and contempt should in justice come upon me, but to You due praise, honor, and glory. And unless I prepare myself to be willingly despised and forsaken by every creature, to be considered absolutely nothing, I cannot have interior peace and strength, nor can I be enlightened spiritually or completely united with You.
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of Contempt for Earthly Honor
- The Importance of Spiritual Preparation
- The Relationship Between Contempt and Spiritual Growth
- The connection between contempt and spiritual enlightenment
- The need for complete union with God
Key Quotes
“Lift up your heart to Me in heaven and the contempt of men on earth will not grieve you.” — Thomas a Kempis
“Unless I prepare myself to be willingly despised and forsaken by every creature, to be considered absolutely nothing, I cannot have interior peace and strength, nor can I be enlightened spiritually or completely united with You.” — Thomas a Kempis
Application Points
- Prepare yourself to be willingly despised and forsaken by every creature in order to have interior peace and strength.
- Recognize the vanity of earthly honor and seek spiritual growth instead.
- Seek complete union with God through humility and contempt for worldly things.