Think about why you have done charitable things for someone in the past. For me it has always been due to one of the four following reasons, two good and not so much:
1. An overwhelming sense of love and responsibility for the recipient, OR
2. An overwhelming compassion for the recipient.
These two mirror God…He loves and accepts responsibility for His creation and has an overwhelming compassion for his creation.
“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD'S loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 21-23)
Two other reasons are these:
3. An overwhelming fear of guilt if you do not do so, OR
4. An overwhelming fear of the consequences if you do not do so.
These are what various religious institutions promote to get one to contribute to their religion. They are NOT of God in my view…and it applies to Christian churches who preach a guilt and fear based doctrine. But when we become aware that we are the object of God’s love, grace, mercy and compassion, then fear in gone…
“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us…There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…” and then we come to realize that “the one who fears is not perfected in love” (1 John 4:16-18)
1. An overwhelming sense of love and responsibility for the recipient, OR
2. An overwhelming compassion for the recipient.
These two mirror God…He loves and accepts responsibility for His creation and has an overwhelming compassion for his creation.
“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD'S loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 21-23)
Two other reasons are these:
3. An overwhelming fear of guilt if you do not do so, OR
4. An overwhelming fear of the consequences if you do not do so.
These are what various religious institutions promote to get one to contribute to their religion. They are NOT of God in my view…and it applies to Christian churches who preach a guilt and fear based doctrine. But when we become aware that we are the object of God’s love, grace, mercy and compassion, then fear in gone…
“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us…There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…” and then we come to realize that “the one who fears is not perfected in love” (1 John 4:16-18)