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The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
The Fifteenth Chapter
WORKS DONE IN CHARITY
NEVER do evil for anything in the world, or for the love of any man. For one who
is in need, however, a good work may at times be purposely left undone or
changed for a better one. This is not the omission of a good deed but rather its
improvement.
Without charity external work is of no value, but anything done in charity, be
it ever so small and trivial, is entirely fruitful inasmuch as God weighs the
love with which a man acts rather than the deed itself.
He does much who loves much. He does much who does a thing well. He does well
who serves the common good rather than his own interests.
Now, that which seems to be charity is oftentimes really sensuality, for man's
own inclination, his own will, his hope of reward, and his self-interest, are
motives seldom absent. On the contrary, he who has true and perfect charity
seeks self in nothing, but searches all things for the glory of God. Moreover,
he envies no man, because he desires no personal pleasure nor does he wish to
rejoice in himself; rather he desires the greater glory of God above all things.
He ascribes to man nothing that is good but attributes it wholly to God from
Whom all things proceed as from a fountain, and in Whom all the blessed shall
rest as their last end and fruition.
If man had but a spark of true charity he would surely sense that all the things
of earth are full of vanity!
