Book 01: Sect. 01: Ch. 07: Avoiding False Hope and Pride

Scout · #1 Aug 17, '05, 2:11 pm

Ch 7: Avoiding False Hope and Pride

Scout

The online version of Section 1: Chapter 7 is available here:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/kempis/imitation.ONE.7.html

WanderAimlessly · #2 Aug 17, '05, 4:51 pm

The opposite of humility is pride. And for most, including my self, pride will often win out. It clouds out judgment and opens us to other sins. It is not our talents or our riches that make us special, it was we do with it. And even in that, pride can ruin it. If we boast about our deeds, we are only trying to impress our fellow man. God will not be impressed.

How often do we see the bad and not the good in our fellow man? A humble mind and heart allows us to see the good in our fellow man. Price clouds both our eyes and judgment.

True humility, not pride is the route to happiness.
PF

**Katie1723** · #3 Aug 17, '05, 6:52 pm

I am kinda confused on this "Do not be proud of your good works, for often what pleases us displeases God"
I know not to be boastful, but is a little inner pride not justfied?
~ Kathy ~

Giannawannabe · #4 Aug 17, '05, 7:36 pm

Do what lies in your power and God will aid your good will.

How often do I choose NOT to something good, because I am afraid. Afraid that I do not have time to help another. Afraid that I will look foolish. There is nothing to fear. If I have an urge to do something good---especially for another, then God will help me.

It does no harm to esteem yourself less than anyone else but it is very harmful to think yourself better than even one.

I wonder though....is it also prideful to always think others are better or more "good" than yourself? Can you be in danger of being prideful by envying others because their goodness outshines your own?

Giannawannabe · #5 Aug 17, '05, 7:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1723

I am kinda confused on this "Do not be proud of your good works, for often what pleases us displeases God"
I know not to be boastful, but is a little inner pride not justfied?
~ Kathy ~

Is it because all good comes from God? So, to be prideful of "our" good works would be to take something away from God. Perhaps that is what is meant.

WanderAimlessly · #6 Aug 17, '05, 7:39 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1723

I am kinda confused on this "Do not be proud of your good works, for often what pleases us displeases God"
I know not to be boastful, but is a little inner pride not justfied?
~ Kathy ~

Inner peace that we are serving God, yes. Pride no. We are doing for the glory of God, not for ourselves.

PF

Quaere Verum · #7 Aug 18, '05, 8:17 am

Antiaphrodite offered a very interesting reflection in her review of Ch. 2.

Quote:

note to self: Wherefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in good estate.

This observation fits well into this chapter as well. It's interesting how all the chapters overlap making me realize that all of God's characteristics or expectations for us are interconnected.

Tonks40 · #8 Aug 18, '05, 11:38 pm

Pride is the exhaultation of oneself. I find that I fall into this trap once too often. Maybe it's a cultural bias, or something that was taught to me in early childhood. But it is something that I've been well aware of and feel compelled to reject.

But it's soooo hard!! I see examples of this pride with my family, with my friends...it seems to be teeming all around me! And I let myself get caught up into it! This is not pleasing to God in any sense!

antiaphrodite · #9 Aug 18, '05, 11:57 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quaere Verum

Antiaphrodite offered a very interesting reflection in her review of Ch. 2.

why thank you!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quaere Verum

It's interesting how all the chapters overlap making me realize that all of God's characteristics or expectations for us are interconnected.

true, true!!! how amazing God is!!!!!!!!!!!

antiaphrodite · #10 Aug 19, '05, 12:03 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonks40

But it's soooo hard!!

yep. most sins, if not all (!!!) feel great, especially while you're doing them. overcoming them is not easy (understatement!). thank God He's on our side!!!

D Quintero · #11 Aug 20, '05, 9:38 pm

I try to be humble, but in doing so, I forget the good and better things people are doing in front of me. If someone told me how I did something, I would tell them now, “God helped me”!

antiaphrodite · #12 Aug 20, '05, 9:50 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by D Quintero

If someone told me how I did something, I would tell them now, “God helped me”!

**Edwin1961** · #13 Aug 22, '05, 1:45 pm

I have a difficulty of WANTING to do MORE, but my desire to do more has to be based on faith and love of God.
I Tend to worry that at times I feel like I need to 'shake the world' with acts of kindness. I am learning that we do NOT have to shake the whole world, just affect the part of the world God has given us (i.e. our homes. neighborhood, workplace, parish, and where ever we go and do in this life). It's Satan that plants this desire to WANT me to do more when I am afraid I'm are not doing enough. (Pride)

Currently I am unemployed, and I worry I am not doing enough, yet people tell me that some of my wisdom has helped them. I only look at that as the Holy Spirit working through me. I am srue there are plenty more others here that are experiencing the same thing...recieving wisdom to council others with struggles in the lives of many.

Martha2Roy · #14 Aug 23, '05, 5:38 am

I recently began going to daily Mass and saying the rosary daily. I did tell my family that I was doing this. I have close family members that no longer attend Mass at all and my logic was that perhaps it would inspire them! Then I started thinking that even though I am trying so hard, I still am not a good "example" to others as a devout Catholic, so now I say nothing about what I am doing. I just pray that my family members will find their way back to Church! I also pray that I can become a better person who uses actions (not words) to lead others to Church.
Martha

ncjohn · #15 Aug 23, '05, 9:02 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1723

I am kinda confused on this "Do not be proud of your good works, for often what pleases us displeases God"
I know not to be boastful, but is a little inner pride not justfied?
~ Kathy ~

I've heard it very nicely put that when I do something good, it is just me pushing my ego aside so that the "God part" in me can act in its true nature, but that when I do bad, or fail to do good, it is my foolish ego asserting itself.

In other words, only God can truly do good, as Jesus told us--"Nobody is good but God." On our own we will not find the good.

All is Grace.