Greco-Christian stream·The Imitation of Christ·Book I — Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life·Chapter XV. Of Works Of Charity
XV. Of works of charity
On the inward principle of works of charity. For nothing is to be done for an evil end, nor for the love of any creature. The work itself may be the same, but its worth depends on the love that animates it. Without charity even good works are nothing.
Source context
- Theme
- charitable works as expression of inner spiritual life rather than external merit-accumulation
- Soul-faculty
- Consciousness Soul
Steiner
not engaged in the GA corpus
Cross-tradition
- Pauline Christianity (1 Corinthians 13)Paul's insistence that works without love profit nothing structurally parallels the Imitation's subordination of outward charitable deeds to inner disposition.
- Meister Eckhart / Rhineland mysticismEckhart's distinction between works proceeding from the ground of the soul versus works performed for external reward mirrors the chapter's emphasis on charity rooted in God rather than self-interest.
- Vedanta / karma-yoga (Bhagavad Gita, ch. 3)The Gita's teaching on action without attachment to fruit presents a cross-tradition congruence with the Imitation's insistence that charitable acts must be freed from the motive of personal gain.
Chapter XV. Of Works Of Charity
OF WORKS OF CHARITY
For no worldly good whatsoever, and for the love of no man, must anything be done which is evil, but for the help of the suffering a good work must sometimes be postponed, or be changed for a better; for herein a good work is not destroyed, but improved. Without charity no work profiteth, but whatsoever is done in charity, however small and of no reputation it be, bringeth forth good fruit; for God verily considereth what a man is able to do, more than the greatness of what he doth.
2He doth much who loveth much. He doth much who doth well. He doth well who ministereth to the public good rather than to his own. Oftentimes that seemeth to be charity which is rather carnality, because it springeth from natural inclination, self-will, hope of repayment, desire of gain.
3He who hath true and perfect charity, in no wise seeketh his own good, but desireth that God alone be altogether glorified. He envieth none, because he longeth for no selfish joy; nor doth he desire to rejoice in himself, but longeth to be blessed in God as the highest good. He ascribeth good to none save to God only, the Fountain whence all good proceedeth, and the End, the Peace, the joy of all Saints. Oh, he who hath but a spark of true charity, hath verily learned that all worldly things are full of vanity.
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