Not everything that is more difficult is more meritorious
Not everything that is more difficult is more meritorious.
- Saint Thomas Aquinas
A quick comment:
I think the book “Games People Play” may have touched on this.
We can, without being aware of it, make ourselves fall into a trap called total self denial and self punishment whereby we deprive ourselves continually the good things or the easy and smart way to do something because of our pride in hardship.
We think that if we work harder and deny ourselves to the extreme and otherwise punish ourselves, that some divine law will intervene and say “you deserve a million dollars for all of your hard physical labor and for your denial of everything good” or “here’s your spiritual award”.
Yet the truth is, self-inflicted difficulty and hardship is foolish. This is because we have denied through selfish pride the very gift and privilege that God himself bestowed…less difficulty and less hardship so as to lift a burden for us.
What to do with this quote:
The next time you seek to take the harder route, be sure it is for the right reason, not just out of pride or thought that it may provide more merit, particularly if we have the softer route as a choice.
If there’s an easier and smarter way to do something, then don’t feel guilty or try it as long as the method is just and doesn’t do ill to another.
- Your Famous Sayings and Quotes Blog Copyright 2010FREE Make Money Online Guide
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Tags: Folly of Being Legalistic, Good Works, Legalism, Works for Nothing
