Too Much Of A Good Thing? Well…
Thomas a’Kempis tells us an obvious truth: We need more than bread – we need God’s presence, His Word, in our lives. If we eat too much, we will get indigestion; if we drink too much, we will suffer; any “carnal” blessing can be perverted into a curse. The solution to the problem lies in controlling our desires and taking a God-sized portion – or in reorienting our desires.
“Man does not live on bread alone.” Matt 4:4
Thomas advises us how to get out of our self-dug, self-indulgent hole: resist such passions by filling your desires with fruits of the Spirit for “against these there is no law (Gal 5:23)”. It is OK to enjoy a thing so long as desire for that thing does not become unhealthy. God does not have laws against things in which we can “over indulge” such as charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity. Of these we can have an overabundance. Let our passions be for these fruits of the Spirit.
Chapter 6, In Short.
1. Desiring more than is reasonable leads to restlessness.
2. True peace of the heart is to be found in resisting your passions.
Scripture Memory Prayer: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.” (Gal 5:25)
Question: Have you tasted the fruits of the Spirit?
Key Quote: True peace of the heart is found in resisting your passions.
The text of Chapter 6: On Inordinate Affections
1. Whenever you desire more than you should reasonably expect, immediately you become restless. The proud and the self-interested are never at rest; while the poor in spirit and humble of heart abide in peace. Whoever is not wholly dead to the self is soon tempted, and is overcome in small and unimportant matters. It is hard for the weak in spirit to withdraw from all worldly desires, especially those who are still part of the carnal world and inclined to the pleasures of the flesh. When you withdraw from these inclinations, you are often sad, and easily angered too if your desires are thwarted.
Fruit of the Spirit is good for you!
2. On the other hand, if you yield to your tendencies, you are immediately weighed down by the conviction of your conscience; for you have followed your own desires, and yet in no way have you attained the hoped for peace by yielding to these temptations. For true peace of the heart is to be found in resisting your passions, not in yielding to those passions. There is no peace in your heart when you are focused on the flesh. Nor is there peace for you who are given up to the things that are outside of you. Peace rests with you who are fervent towards God and living the life of the Spirit (see Gal 5:16-25).