Satanus
Skolio Hnau

"The Siege of your world shall be raised, the black spot cleared away, before the real beginning."
- Tor Oyarsa Perelendri

Lewis calls him the 'Bent One.'

The Scriptures speak of him as the Accuser. He chose to please himself rather than the Creator. This decision skewed his nature, and he is going about (even today), attempting to do the same to all other creatures.
As Lewis often illustrates, the sexual desire (for instance) has been skewed, and its purpose perverted.

God designed it so that it might draw man and woman close in a committed, covenant relationship. In this light, sexual desire is clearly morally good, as well as physically and emotionally pleasing.

However, when that desire is twisted by the Bent One, it evolves into lust (the detached urge for one's own gratification...an urge which is willing to demean the dignity of another to satiate itself.)

Similarly, we see this pattern in what is called the "economic drive." The Scripture never lauds laziness. Humankind is given responsibility, just as Adam & Eve are told to care for the garden. John Calvin reminds us that "work is holy."

However, when the drive to earn money is twisted, the genuine pleasure granted from God disappears, and is replaced by bondage. As one writer put it, "The workaholic can’t get off the treadmill to enjoy the fruit of his labor. He anxiously allows work to become compulsive, eating away at every area of his life. Then we have the greedy of this world who hoard their treasure, refusing to enjoy it themselves or share it with others. Instead, money becomes a substitute for God, an idol. The greedy seek their identity and ultimate security in money."

Such is the story of the rich man of Luke XII. His problem is not that he is happy about a great harvest, but that he falls prey to the illusion that his wealth equals true security. His trust is in earthly things (warehouses), which will always fail.

St. Augustine’s definition of the love of money (lucre) is one of the best. He illustrates that the wrong kind of love is not restricted to money alone. 'Whenever a created thing becomes no longer a means to love God but an end it itself, then you have that “love” which is idolatry and the root of all evil.'

Do we love the idea of finding the perfect mate? Of having a better marriage? Of having a child? Gettin a job? These desires are well and good, and the avid pursuit of each of these things can be an acceptable duty, depending on one's life.

The question is, however, whether or not these desires are steps on the road toward desiring God, or far-fetched detours which cater to our flesh. What matters most? Things below, or things above? (Colossians 3:1-2)

Agreed, there is a multiplicity of things we ought to be passionate about below; but we must still ask whether our zeal for health, love, kids, education, job, and financial security is and extension of our zeal for loving God and seeking his will?

From whence do we derive our ultimate satisfaction and security? In temporal things (people included) which pass away, or in a God who is forever? It doesn't take a whole lot to get us side-tracked.

It's been this way ever since our first parents were tempted by the Bent One.