C.S. Lewis: Instincts

To listen to that instinct speaking in its own cause and deciding it in its own favor would be rather simple minded. Each instinct, if you listen to it, will claim to be gratified at the expense of all the rest. By the very act of listening to one rather than to others we have already prejudged the case. If we did not bring to the examination of our instincts a knowledge of their comparative dignity we could never learn it from them.

And that knowledge cannot itself be instinctive: the judge cannot be one of the parties judged: or, if he is, the decision is worthless and there is no ground for placing the preservation of the species above self-preservation or sexual appetite.”

C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) in The Abolition of Man (London: Oxford University Press, 1943) 29.

Click here to download this classic work compiled after C.S. Lewis delivered a series of three lectures on 24-26 February 1943 at the University of Durham.

Today’s marks the fourth of seven posts from The Abolition of Man. This one comes from his second lecture entitled, “The Way.”

What do our instincts say regarding generosity? In short, they can’t be trusted!

All of creation shouts, “Give.” The sun gives light, the plants give food, the water gives refreshment, and so on. But from birth, fallen humanity cries ‘mine’ as one of our first words.

Our instincts focus on selfishly fulfilling our fleshly or bodily desires.

Today’s Scripture brings truth to this situation. The flesh and the Spirit are at war. That’s why we must discipline ourselves not to let the flesh control us.

When we keep in step with the flesh we get bad fruit. When we keep in step with the Spirit, we get good fruit, and one of them is generosity.

If we want to live generous lives, we do well to follow Christ instead of our instincts.

A hard example links to self-preservation. The world says that you have to look out for yourself. The Word teaches us not to worry about even the basic necessities but to seek Christ and His Kingdom first. That’s just one of many examples.

When you follow Christ and not your instincts, He delivers and preserves you.

Father in heaven, this is deep stuff. Help me follow you instead of my instincts, so I keep in step with the Spirit rather than the flesh, and produce much fruit, including generosity. Hear my prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.