People will often say that doing a good deed for someone else makes them feel good inside. But the Bible never promised a “warm fuzzy” feeling every time we do something good. On the contrary, in fact. Prophets over and over again in the Old Testament lamented their sorrow for being constantly persecuted the Israelites who refused to repent. When Jesus healed the 10 lepers, only one came back to thank Him. When he healed a man with a disfigured hand He was criticized for healing someone on the Sabbath. And after a crowd of people started following Him after He had fed the five thousand, Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” Or, in modern day vernacular, “You didn’t pay attention to anything I tried to teach you yesterday. You’re only following me around because you’re hoping for another free meal. Well, forget it! Don’t expect me to give you one every day! Be grateful for what you have!”
So what can we learn from this?
- Don’t expect a warm fuzzy. Being a worker for God is just that – work! Expect to feel exhausted and worn out at times. It WILL happen. Whatever emotional uplift you might feel will pale in comparison to the amount of exhausting work you’ll be doing. It will hardly seem worth the effort.
- Don’t expect people to give you a thank you. I like the story of the 10 lepers. It is a testament to us that for every good deed done for someone else, nine times out of ten, no one will come back to thank us.
- Expect to be treated like a doormat. The more you give, the more people will want to take from you. Give people a free meal one day, and they’ll want one every day.
- Expect people to respond to your good deeds with criticism. Somehow you didn’t go about it the “right” or “proper” way.
- Don’t expect anyone to return any favors. God’s love isn’t reciprocal and He loves the wicked as well as the righteous. We don’t do good deeds so that others will return the favor. We do good deeds simply because it’s the right thing to do and because it pleases God.
We have to ask ourselves, why are we doing good for others? Is it strictly for the emotional uplift, the smug “pat on the back” feeling of being a “good Christian”? Is it to win favors from our friends (see I did this nice thing for you – now you owe me)? Is it to win favors from God (see I have followed Your commands and volunteered to help the sick and needy – now I need You to do something for me)? Is it to cover up our own guilt and sense of worthlessness (I have sinned greatly against God but don’t know how to change – hopefully God will see only my good deeds and overlook the sin I’ve committed)? Is it to give us an opportunity to “humblebrag” (oh yes, look at me and see how I am so much better than other people because I did this great thing)?
If we do good deeds for any of the above reasons we will wind up feeling let down and resentful at some point, because doing good is no basketful of roses. It is a thankless job and it is doubtful we will get much glory out of it, at least not in the worldly sense. We might even harden our hearts and wonder what the point of it all is.
So what IS the point of doing good?
Love. Love is the secret of doing good. If you have love in your heart, doing good for others comes naturally. If you don’t have love in your heart, you will find it downright impossible to keep it up for any length of time. You will likely “do good” at your own convenience rather than at the convenience of the one who needs your help. Love is setting your own self-interests aside as you care for the one in need.
Love is the fulfillment of the Law. Love God and love others.
Pray that God fill you with His love. Pray that that love overflow in abundance to others. Pray that the joy of sharing that love, and the hope of our eternal reward, exceed the grief and sorrow you will likely endure from those who won’t appreciate your kindness. Pray that pleasing God exceeds our desire to please men or the impulse to protect ourselves from those who might pain us with their selfishness and ingratitude.
Most importantly, pray that we remain steadfast in the faith and not allow ourselves to become conformed to the world which entices us to be impure, hard-hearted, cynical, and proud.