Will I Will God's Will Willingly?
The end of chapter 3,
Book 1, The Doctrine of Truth
Recall from last week, when we had good Thomas take to task those who seek out learning and schooling for the sake of learning and being honored for their "smarts."
Thomas continues the thread after just announcing that these people are quickly forgotten because their learning and pursuit of truth has been self-centered...not "other centered" or God-centered. Having missed the opportunity to serve others with their deeds and intelligence, Thomas moves on to tell us:
6. Oh, how quickly does the glory of the world pass away (1 Jn 2:17).
On the theme above, Thomas is saying - "OK, you're smart, we get it, but you haven't built a legacy of love...at all. You've built your life on knowledge, but it's knowledge of falsehoods and selfishness, not of truth or goodness or kindness." It is important to hone in on what is good for our body and our mind and our souls. Seek out the goodness- the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22)Would that their lives had been answerable to their learning; then would they have studied and read well.
How many perish in the world through vain learning, who little care for the service of God!
And because they chose rather to be great rather than to be humble, therefore they are lost in their own imaginations.These three statements are mortal strikes at the lack of accountability rolled into this ego-centric gnosticism. In his mind, he is a legend, a "rock star" of learning. Look at last week's post on rock-heads.This reminds me of the person who says "Yes, I've read the Bible, and blah, blah, blah...." He wants the accolades for having done the reading and knowing the text, but is not accountable to it. It's the difference between the Ten Commandments and the Ten Suggestions.
This line is straight out of 1 Cor 13:3, and is a summary restatement of the whole chapter 13 of that epistle. So, right now think of the great people in your life and how they shared their love with you and with others. Thomas sets up this litany of
He is truly great who is great in charity (love).
"He is truly great who...."
He is truly great who is little in his own eyes and holds as nothing the pinnacle of honor.
He is truly prudent who looks upon all earthly things as nothing that he may gain Christ (Phil 3:8).
How can we take ourselves seriously when we compare our daily "to do" list and achievement of quotas, with establishing a legacy of love and helping others. Learn to hold on loosely, or you will crush what you have captured! What we want finds us when we match our will with God's Will. God smiles at that moment, and we find ourselves at peace.
And he is very learned indeed who does the will of God and renounces his own will.
And this ends our lengthy reflection on Chapter 3. Doing God's Will and not our own will leads us to the truth.
Thank you for reading and praying along with me. 'Til next time, be Imitators of Christ!
tim
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