The greatest sin

[mcteague]

I have this dream. A man stands before God on judgment day. He did all the things he thought he was supposed to do. He confessed his sins before death. He believes he has lived as good a Christian life as he could have. He is ready for a reading of his life.

God asks him a question. What did you do with the gifts I gave you? Did you use them to live life as fully as you could have? The man considers the question and talks about how circumstances of of his life prevented him from doing all that he had hoped and dreamed of. He talks about how he had insecurities, and he was to self conscious to try somethings. He talks about the things he did do.
God asks him again. “Did you use the gifts and life I gave you fully?”
Finally, the man must admit that no he did not.

Although not a commandment, and perhaps not really explicitly stated anywhere, is this really the greatest sin? Not living the life we could. Not overcoming whatever inner or outer obstacle life brings us. Wasting life and the gifts and talents we have.

I think probably it is. This is not a confession. I am not usually the man in the dream. Sometimes, but not always. I just wonder if living life to it’s fullest is the unwritten commandment. Is this the greatest sin?

 

[JohnMPhilomena]

I think the greatest sin is not having love for your fellow man, which of course is a lack of love for God himself.

 

[Little_One0307]

Perhaps it is the sin of not loving God and rendering worship and adoration to Him.

Or it could be rejecting His Mercy and His outreaching to us. Spurning the most precious gift and blessing that God desires to give to each one of us, to make us partakers of His Divine Life. When we do this, it goes against the purpose for which we were created for. When one thwarts their purpose, then I believe this would be the greatest sin.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church

1 God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Saviour. In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life.

God bless.

 

[BraveNewFamily]

I think they greatest sin is to do evil, but in the name of all that is just.

 

[mcteague]

I think the greatest sin is not having love for your fellow man, which of course is a lack of love for God himself.

And so the man says " I loved my fellow man" And God says “How did you do that?”
The man replies, " I lite candles and prayed for people". And God replies, " So if man needs bread, you think that you should pray to me. And I should attach myself to a plow like an ox and do the work for you. What did you do?"

 

[John21652]

I have this dream. A man stands before God on judgment day. He did all the things he thought he was supposed to do. He confessed his sins before death. He believes he has lived as good a Christian life as he could have. He is ready for a reading of his life.

God asks him a question. What did you do with the gifts I gave you? Did you use them to live life as fully as you could have? The man considers the question and talks about how circumstances of of his life prevented him from doing all that he had hoped and dreamed of. He talks about how he had insecurities, and he was to self conscious to try somethings. He talks about the things he did do.
God asks him again. “Did you use the gifts and life I gave you fully?”
Finally, the man must admit that no he did not.

Although not a commandment, and perhaps not really explicitly stated anywhere, is this really the greatest sin? Not living the life we could. Not overcoming whatever inner or outer obstacle life brings us. Wasting life and the gifts and talents we have.

I think probably it is. This is not a confession. I am not usually the man in the dream. Sometimes, but not always. I just wonder if living life to it’s fullest is the unwritten commandment. Is this the greatest sin?

A lot depends on how you would define some of the things you have mentioned. I underlined one, which is “…living life to its fullest…”. That phrase would mean different things to different people. the hedonist might see that phrase as meaning he should get out and party his life away being a sociable human being. A more contemplative person might think he should spend as much time as possible reading and writing. A more practical person might think that having a secure job, getting married and raising kids is living life to its fullest.

It also means we need to define somehow what the “talents” and “gifts” are you refer to. The contemplative person who spends his life reading and writing might be capable of great public leadership, but opts for what he does instead. The potential of any human being is probably not limited to any one thing, or one path through life and it is probably rare that any single human being uses all of their potential talents and gifts. I’m not even sure it is possible to use all our potential talents and gifts. Regardless of what talents and gifts we do choose to use, it is important we don’t waste them, or use them improperly.

With regard to the “insecurities” and “self conciousness” that might hold back a person from exercising their potential talents and gifts, on the one hand it could be argued that such a person is a moral, or a psychological coward, but then again it could be argued that a person who realises that they are constrained by personal issues is on the way to a great sense of self understanding and that, perhaps, is the greatest use of talent there is. Jesus said we should love God as we love ourselves and perhaps knowing ourselves, with our limitations as well as our talents and gifts, is the way to be closer to God.

 

[mcteague]

You make a good point. I dont mean it in the hedonist way.
Have you ever seen on YouTube where someone posts a song they are singing. Their in some dark room. Lite only by their monitor. Their face is filled with fear. And although they start out a little shaky, it is clear they have a fine voice. They could be bringing joy to others by sharing themselves. I don’t mean they should be famous. It is both sad and beautiful to watch them take this bold step into the world. But think of others who never find the courage.

Think of people who tie themselves into knots because of some circumstance or wrong done to them. People who never love again because their heart was broken. People who never forgive their parents. People who never give to charity because they never work hard enough to become even financially stable. Just people who never get over their issues enough to give to the world. Who never live the life they could But think they are being pious by wearing an invisible hair shirt.

Perhaps the sin I mean is sloth.

 

[puzzleannie]

I
Although not a commandment, and perhaps not really explicitly stated anywhere, is this really the greatest sin? Not living the life we could. Not overcoming whatever inner or outer obstacle life brings us. Wasting life and the gifts and talents we have.

I think probably it is. This is not a confession. I am not usually the man in the dream. Sometimes, but not always. I just wonder if living life to it’s fullest is the unwritten commandment. Is this the greatest sin?

sounds like that Albert Brooks-Meryl Streep movie

the judgment goes more along the lines of Matthew 25
did you feed the poor, house the homeless etc.

as Mother Teresa said and I paraphrase it is not necessary to be fulfilled it is necessary only to be faithful

we are not going to be judged on whether we reached our full potential by secular standards but by heavenly ones–did we work to become saints, not did we work to become CEOs