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.
The Imitation of Christ Thomas, à Kempis
If man had but a spark of true charity he would surely sense that all the things of earth are full
of vanity!