Beware Vain and Worldly Knowledge
The true source of knowledge and wisdom comes from God, and it is essential to seek Him with a humble heart and a desire to serve Him.
Thomas a Kempis preaches about the importance of focusing on the teachings of Christ rather than the words of men, emphasizing the need for virtue over mere knowledge. He highlights the necessity of humbling oneself, mortifying vices, and seeking eternal truths through Christ's teachings. Kempis warns against being distracted by worldly knowledge and urges a deep love and ardor for Christ above all else, as He is the ultimate Teacher and Truth.
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THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, do not let the fine-sounding and subtle words of men deceive you. For the kingdom of heaven consists not in talk but in virtue. Attend, rather, to My words which enkindle the heart and enlighten the mind, which excite contrition and abound in manifold consolations. Never read them for the purpose of appearing more learned or more wise. Apply yourself to mortifying your vices, for this will benefit you more than your understanding of many difficult questions.
Though you shall have read and learned many things, it will always be necessary for you to return to this one principle: I am He who teaches man knowledge, and to the little ones I give a clearer understanding than can be taught by man. He to whom I speak will soon be wise and his soul will profit. But woe to those who inquire of men about many curious things, and care very little about the way they serve Me.
The time will come when Christ, the Teacher of teachers, the Lord of angels, will appear to hear the lessons of all -- that is, to examine the conscience of everyone. Then He will search Jerusalem with lamps and the hidden things of darkness will be brought to light and the arguings of men's tongues be silenced.
I am He Who in one moment so enlightens the humble mind that it comprehends more of eternal truth than could be learned by ten years in the schools. I teach without noise of words or clash of opinions, without ambition for honor or confusion of argument.
I am He Who teaches man to despise earthly possessions and to loathe present things, to ask after the eternal, to hunger for heaven, to fly honors and to bear with scandals, to place all hope in Me, to desire nothing apart from Me, and to love Me ardently above all things. For a certain man by loving Me intimately learned divine truths and spoke wonders. He profited more by leaving all things than by studying subtle questions.
To some I speak of common things, to others of special matters. To some I appear with sweetness in signs and figures, and to others I appear in great light and reveal mysteries. The voice of books is but a single voice, yet it does not teach all men alike, because I within them am the Teacher and the Truth, the Examiner of hearts, the Understander of thoughts, the Promoter of acts, distributing to each as I see fit.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Deception of Vain and Worldly Knowledge
- A. The kingdom of heaven is not in talk but in virtue
- B. The importance of attending to God's words
- C. The danger of seeking knowledge for personal gain
- II. The Source of True Knowledge
- A. God is the teacher of all knowledge
- B. He gives a clearer understanding to those who seek Him
- III. The Examination of Conscience
- A. Christ will examine the conscience of everyone
- B. The importance of serving God with a humble heart
- IV. The Power of Humility
- A. God enlightens the humble mind with eternal truth
- B. The importance of despising earthly possessions and loving God
Key Quotes
“The kingdom of heaven consists not in talk but in virtue.” — Thomas a Kempis
“I am He Who in one moment so enlightens the humble mind that it comprehends more of eternal truth than could be learned by ten years in the schools.” — Thomas a Kempis
“I am He Who teaches man to despise earthly possessions and to loathe present things, to ask after the eternal, to hunger for heaven, to fly honors and to bear with scandals, to place all hope in Me, to desire nothing apart from Me, and to love Me ardently above all things.” — Thomas a Kempis
Application Points
- Apply yourself to mortifying your vices, for this will benefit you more than your understanding of many difficult questions.
- Despise earthly possessions and loathe present things, and instead ask after the eternal and hunger for heaven.
- Place all hope in God and desire nothing apart from Him, and love Him ardently above all things.