What's Your Motivation for Acts of Kindness?

   Act of kindness.  That is simply doing something considerate, nice and kind for someone else.  It can be planned or spontaneous.  Sounds simple enough.  Here is the disclaimer.  Could you perform a random act of kindness without anyone, including the recipient knowing who completed that act?  Determining whether you would do so helps determine your motive for why you are willing to be kind.

   If you struggle with doing acts of kindness and with no one knowing it, are you or I looking for affirmation from others?  Or are we wanting people to see how good of a person we are?  Jesus gave a pretty stern warning when He said, “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.  When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do — blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity!  I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.  But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.  Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:1-4).

   Am I being kind to others so that people see how “spiritual” or “godly” I am?  Motives can show how much we strug ...