1427 Fulfilment of duty.... voluntary or compulsory....

May 20, 1940: Book 23

Only that is of value for the higher development of the soul which is striven for and realized of one's own free will. People can be urged to live a life that in itself corresponds to God's will. However, they only act under a certain amount of compulsion. If their own will is not involved, the deeds are invalid, i.e. worthless before God. Every fulfilment of duty certainly means a correct life on earth, but no particular merit for eternity. For what is valued in eternity must have emerged from free will. It is not enough to fulfil certain commandments which are given great importance on earth but which have little or no divine will in them. To fulfil the divine commandment of love from the innermost drive.... this includes everything that is beneficial for the soul's development. You will often be required to fulfil the commandment of love out of necessity.... you will be prompted to do deeds which in themselves correspond to God's will if they are carried out of your own free will. However, the human being should not give himself over to the belief that he has fulfilled the lord's will through these deeds and is absorbed in active neighbourly love.... Only his own will is decisive, and it is only judged to what extent he feels lovingly urged to do it. And that is why people are very often honoured by their fellow human beings for their actions or regarded as pious if their inner thoughts do not correspond to their outer actions. A person can only ever do what is required of him according to human laws, but without being in contact with God. A certain ambition and the desire for recognition are the driving force for the greatest fulfilment of duty, but the development of the soul is called into question, for the innermost instinct of the heart alone is decisive. What the world demands must always serve the preservation of worldly power to a certain degree; however, if it is left to man's discretion, then the purpose is also a noble one. For then their own will can become active. Thus, all coercive measures that have the appearance of charity, as well as the compulsory fulfilment of ecclesiastical commandments, have only the least value before God, but every voluntary compliance with them increases the value....

Amen

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