Self-Love Is the Greatest Hindrance to the Highest Good
Self-love is the greatest hindrance to the highest good, and true peace can only be found in a deep foundation in God.
Thomas a Kempis preaches about the importance of surrendering all to Christ, warning against self-love and attachment to earthly desires that hinder true freedom and peace. He emphasizes the need to be fully committed to God's will, seeking heavenly wisdom and rooting out worldly ambitions from the heart. Kempis highlights that true peace and contentment come from being founded in Christ, not from external circumstances or possessions.
Text
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, you should give all for all, and in no way belong to yourself. You must know that self-love is more harmful to you than anything else in the world. In proportion to the love and affection you have for a thing, it will cling to you more or less. If your love is pure, simple, and well ordered, you will not be a slave to anything. Do not covet what you may not have. Do not possess anything that can hinder you or rob you of freedom.
It is strange that you do not commit yourself to Me with your whole heart, together with all that you can desire or possess. Why are you consumed with foolish sorrow? Why are you wearied with unnecessary care? Be resigned to My will and you will suffer no loss.
If you seek this or that, if you wish to be in this place or that place, to have more ease and pleasure, you will never rest or be free from care, for some defect is found in everything and everywhere someone will vex you. To obtain and multiply earthly goods, then, will not help you, but to despise them and root them out of your heart will aid. This, understand, is true not only of money and wealth, but also of ambition for honor and desire for empty praise, all of which will pass away with this world.
The place matters little if the spirit of fervor is not there; nor will peace be lasting if it is sought from the outside; if your heart has no true foundation, that is, if you are not founded in Me, you may change, but you will not better yourself. For when occasion arises and is accepted, you will find that from which you fled and worse.
A PRAYER FOR CLEANSING THE HEART AND OBTAINING HEAVENLY WISDOM
Strengthen me by the grace of Your holy spirit, O God. Give me the power to be strengthened inwardly and to empty my heart of all vain care and anxiety, so that I may not be drawn away by many desires, whether for precious things or mean ones. Let me look upon everything as passing, and upon myself as soon to pass away with them, because there is nothing lasting under the sun, where all is vanity and affliction of spirit. How wise is he who thinks thus!
Give me, Lord, heavenly wisdom to learn above all else to seek and find You, to enjoy and love You more than anything, and to consider other things as they are, as Your wisdom has ordered them. Grant me prudence to avoid the flatterer and to bear patiently with him who disagrees with me. For it is great wisdom not to be moved by the sound of words, nor to give ear to the wicked, flattering siren. Then, I shall walk safely in the way I have begun.
Sermon Outline
- The Dangers of Self-Love
- The Futility of Seeking External Goods
- The Importance of Inner Foundation
- A true foundation is necessary for lasting peace
- External circumstances will not bring lasting change
Key Quotes
“You must know that self-love is more harmful to you than anything else in the world.” — Thomas a Kempis
“To obtain and multiply earthly goods, then, will not help you, but to despise them and root them out of your heart will aid.” — Thomas a Kempis
“How wise is he who thinks thus!” — Thomas a Kempis
Application Points
- Learn to despise external goods and root them out of your heart, understanding that they are fleeting and will not bring lasting peace.
- Seek and find God above all else, and consider other things as they are, as God's wisdom has ordered them.
- Cultivate a true foundation in God, and trust that external circumstances will not bring lasting change.