The Weight of Glory

Lewis talks about how becoming a mercenary is a bad thing. By doing things just in order to get the reward instead of doing them for the sake of doing is wrong. To marry a woman just for her money is to be a mercenary. Instead of marrying for love's sake. A general who fights for the recognition instead of fighting solely for his country is another example.

Lewis also writes about how we are longing for God's acknowledgment. To be able to get to heaven and have have God tell you "good job" is what we long for. To be recognized by God.. for Him to know us. That is what we deeply long for. We may find satisfaction through other things, but when we do its not for long. We can be totally satisfied with these superficial things. Only when we are pleasing God can we be truly satisfied.

We are also called to be modest. We can be proud, but not of ourselves. God tells us to be proud of the work we do. To be proud of the talents he gives us. Not because we have them and others don't, but because they are from God. We should use them to exalt and glorify him. Lewis writes "Perfect humility dispenses with modesty. If God is satisfied with the work, the work may be satisfied with itself."

When we see beautiful things it makes us long for them.. But this beauty is not ‘in’ the goods but is expressed ‘through’ them. “But if mistaken for the thing itself they turn into dumb idols, breaking the heart of their worshippers.” Longing is a “desire which no natural happiness can satisfy.” Everything beautiful comes from God. He made things beautiful for us. That beauty makes us long, but it should be for God and not some earthly object.