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Posted on 09/20/2007 9:24:13 AM PDT by Salvation
Bearing With the Faults of Others - Imitation of Christ
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UNTIL God ordains otherwise, a man ought to bear patiently whatever he cannot correct in himself and in others. Consider it better thus -- perhaps to try your patience and to test you, for without such patience and trial your merits are of little account. Nevertheless, under such difficulties you should pray that God will consent to help you bear them calmly.
If, after being admonished once or twice, a person does not amend, do not argue with him but commit the whole matter to God that His will and honor may be furthered in all His servants, for God knows well how to turn evil to good. Try to bear patiently with the defects and infirmities of others, whatever they may be, because you also have many a fault which others must endure. If you cannot make yourself what you would wish to be, how can you bend others to your will? We want them to be perfect, yet we do not correct our own faults. We wish them to be severely corrected, yet we will not correct ourselves. Their great liberty displeases us, yet we would not be denied what we ask. We would have them bound by laws, yet we will allow ourselves to be restrained in nothing. Hence, it is clear how seldom we think of others as we do of ourselves. If all were perfect, what should we have to suffer from others for God's sake? But God has so ordained, that we may learn to bear with one another's burdens, for there is no man without fault, no man without burden, no man sufficient to himself nor wise enough. Hence we must support one another, console one another, mutually help, counsel, and advise, for the measure of every man's virtue is best revealed in time of adversity -- adversity that does not weaken a man but rather shows what he is. |
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
BY
THOMAS KEMPIS
A very powerful spiritual guidance for the soul who seeks to imitate Jesus Christ.
Learn from me, because I am meek and humble of heart. Mat. 11:29
** Bearing With the Faults of Others **
I daresay this is one of aKempis’ more difficult lessons. We all tend to think well of ourselves and less of others.
Any thoughts out there?
**Nevertheless, under such difficulties you should pray that God will consent to help you bear them calmly.**
OK, I don’t pray enough during these times, because my mouth opens (and not with a prayer). LOL!
Excellent words there, MacNessa. Have a great day!
Thanks for posting these, Salvation. Each day we are treated to a succinct gem of wisdom.
“Try to bear patiently with the defects and infirmities of others”
Those are not my “defects and infirmities”; I like to think of them as eccentricities.
You do have a point. In the mind or in the heart?
I can’t make that call, but God can.
Is it a sin of pride?
Then could it be both in the heart and in the mind.
These are certainly thought-proving, aren’t they?
Let’s thank Thomas aKempis for writing them back in 1441. Amazing how applicable they are today, isn’t it?
Imitation of Christ: 1, 7, Avoiding False Hope and Pride [Devotional]
Imitation of Christ: 1, 8, Shunning Over- Familiarity [Devotional]
Imitation of Christ: 1, 9, Obedience and Subjection [Devotional]
Imitation of Christ: 1, 10, Avoiding Idle Talk [Devotional]
Imitation of Christ: 1, 11, Acquiring Peace and Zeal for Perfection [Devotional]
Imitation of Christ: 1, 12, The Value of Adversity [Devotional]
Imitation of Christ: 1, 13, Resisting Temptation [Devotional]
Imitation of Christ: 1. 14, Avoiding Rash Judgment [Devotional]
Imitation of Christ: 1, 15, Works Done in Charity [Devotional]
Imitation of Christ: 1, 16, Bearing With the Faults of Others [Devotional]
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