"The moment you have a self at all, there is a possibility of putting Yourself first--wanting to be the centre--wanting to be God, in fact. That was the sin of Satan: and that was the sin he taught the human race. Some people think the fall of man had something to do with sex, but that is a mistake. (The story in the Book of Genesis rather suggests that some corruption in our sexual nature followed the fall and was its result, not its cause.)
What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could "be like gods"--could set up on their own as if they had created themselves--be their own masters--invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history--money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery--the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.
The reason why it can never succeed is this. God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on gasoline, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
That is the key to history. Terrific energy is expended--civilisations are built up--excellent institutions devised; but each time something goes wrong. Some fatal flaw always brings the selfish and cruel people to the top and it all slides back into misery and ruin. In fact, the machine conks. It seems to start up all right and runs a Jew yards, and then it breaks down. They are trying to run it on the wrong juice. That is what Satan has done to us humans."
- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
The wisdom in C.S. Lewis's words is profound and unflinching. In our relentless pursuit of self-gratification, we've distanced ourselves from the real essence of life. Materialistic possessions, money, power - we've built entire societies on these transient elements, believing them to be the key to our happiness. Yet, as history testifies, such an approach only leads to temporary satisfaction, followed by lasting misery and ruin.
Echoing C.S. Lewis's wisdom, the quest for happiness outside of God proves to be a fruitless pursuit. It is not self-realization or the fulfilling of material desires that brings true joy and peace, as commonly perceived, but rather the realization of God's presence and grace in our lives. The fleeting pleasures of the world tether us to the chains of endless want and are no substitution for the enduring contentment offered by God.
Stay poor, friends. This has been your daily reminder to embrace poverty.
What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could "be like gods"--could set up on their own as if they had created themselves--be their own masters--invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history--money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery--the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.
The reason why it can never succeed is this. God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on gasoline, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
That is the key to history. Terrific energy is expended--civilisations are built up--excellent institutions devised; but each time something goes wrong. Some fatal flaw always brings the selfish and cruel people to the top and it all slides back into misery and ruin. In fact, the machine conks. It seems to start up all right and runs a Jew yards, and then it breaks down. They are trying to run it on the wrong juice. That is what Satan has done to us humans."
- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
The wisdom in C.S. Lewis's words is profound and unflinching. In our relentless pursuit of self-gratification, we've distanced ourselves from the real essence of life. Materialistic possessions, money, power - we've built entire societies on these transient elements, believing them to be the key to our happiness. Yet, as history testifies, such an approach only leads to temporary satisfaction, followed by lasting misery and ruin.
Echoing C.S. Lewis's wisdom, the quest for happiness outside of God proves to be a fruitless pursuit. It is not self-realization or the fulfilling of material desires that brings true joy and peace, as commonly perceived, but rather the realization of God's presence and grace in our lives. The fleeting pleasures of the world tether us to the chains of endless want and are no substitution for the enduring contentment offered by God.
Stay poor, friends. This has been your daily reminder to embrace poverty.