Who Has Love, Has All.
Francois Fenelon's sermon emphasizes that true love for God is foundational to the Christian life and encompasses all other virtues.
Francois Fenelon emphasizes the importance of having love, stating that whoever possesses love has everything. He encourages maintaining faithfulness in religious practices even when lacking pleasure in them, highlighting the purity and safety of fidelity sustained without emotional delights. Fenelon advises engaging in Christian conversations with trusted family members and daily reading and reflection to gain strength for the sacrifices required by God, emphasizing that love for God is the key to fulfilling all other aspects of life.
Text
LETTER XXVIII.
Who has love, has all.
I have thought frequently, since yesterday, on the matters you communicated to me, and I have increasing confidence that God will sustain you. Though you take no great pleasure in religious exercises, you must not neglect to be faithful in them, as far as your health will permit. A convalescent has but little appetite, but he must eat to sustain life.
It would be very serviceable to you, if you could occasionally have a few minutes of Christian converse with such of your family as you can confide in, and, as to the choice, be guided in perfect liberty by your impressions at the moment. God does not call you by any lively emotions, and I heartily rejoice at it, if you will but remain faithful; for a fidelity, unsustained by delights, is far purer, and safer from danger, than one accompanied by those tender feelings, which may be seated too exclusively in the imagination. A little reading and recollection every day, will be the means of insensibly giving you light and strength for all the sacrifices God will require of you. Love Him, and I will acquit you of everything else; for everything else will come by love. I do not ask from you a love tender and emotional, but only that your will should lean towards love, and that, notwithstanding all the corrupt desires of your heart, you should prefer God before self and the whole world.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The importance of love in the Christian life. - Love as the foundation of all virtues. - The relationship between love and faithfulness.
- II points: - The role of religious exercises in nurturing love. - The necessity of faithfulness in spiritual practices. - The analogy of a convalescent needing sustenance.
- III points: - The value of Christian conversation and community. - Choosing confidants wisely for spiritual growth. - The impact of shared faith on personal strength.
- IV points: - The distinction between emotional and steadfast love. - The purity of love without emotional attachment. - The call to prefer God over self.
- V points: - Daily practices for nurturing love. - The importance of reading and recollection. - Sacrifices required by love.
Key Quotes
“Love Him, and I will acquit you of everything else; for everything else will come by love.” — Francois Fenelon
“A fidelity, unsustained by delights, is far purer, and safer from danger, than one accompanied by those tender feelings.” — Francois Fenelon
“Though you take no great pleasure in religious exercises, you must not neglect to be faithful in them.” — Francois Fenelon
Application Points
- Engage in daily spiritual practices to nurture your love for God.
- Seek out Christian fellowship to strengthen your faith and resolve.
- Prioritize God in your life, choosing Him over fleeting desires.