Inordinate Affections
The Imitation of Christ
Chapter 6 Inordinate Affections
Thomas À Kempis
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas À Kempis
No one is going to like this chapter of Kempis’ work, least of all me.
“One whose spirit is weak and who is still prone to sensual pleasures will encounter much difficulty in withdrawing completely from earthly desires.”
My spirit is weak. I like to have fun, to enjoy life. Hello. My name is Mark, and I like stuff. Kempis does not mince words on this front either.
“For this reason, sadness accompanies the withdrawal, and anger may be directed toward the least confrontation.”
Kempis’ point here is very direct. The more we pursue pleasures and things in this world, the farther we move away from true happiness. We cannot obtain that happiness while we seek to obtain something else.
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy, over it, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Matthew 13:44 (NASB)
The book of Matthew is filled with references to the Kingdom of Heaven. We can learn a lot from studying what Matthew has to say about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. Rather, we can learn a lot from what Jesus says about the Kingdom of Heaven as recorded by Matthew.
The struggle is real. The struggle in this world is to stay free from worry, from stress, from things that intrude upon our peace. God’s Word in scripture has relief for those who seek it. God’s Word brings peace but only when we listen to Him, follow His ways, and bend our lives to the path He has laid out rather than pursue our own worldly lusts.
I enjoy having things, and I lay up much that moth and rust can devour. I struggle mightily with the inner passions of consumerism. I do not believe God wants His children to live in suffering and poverty, but maybe His idea of joy and wealth isn’t the same as ours. Maybe He knows a better way, and He just wants the best for His children if only we would listen and choose to take His advice.