Do you do things for others for their sake?
If so, you need to stop it right now.
Ultimately it will come back to bite you because whether you realize it or not you're actually doing it for yourself. Whenever we do something for other people with expectations for some kind of return we will usually be disappointed. They may not be grateful enough or they may not think that what we did was all that special. This will cause us to judge that person--they suddenly become not good enough--or we judge ourselves. We tell ourselves that if we were good enough they would have been thrilled with what we did for them or our accomplishment.
"So, Cathy," you may be asking, "we are to quit doing things for others?!"
"Yes."
That's because now that you and I are in Christ and He is in us, we should be doing all things for Him. Now that we are living the exchanged life everything we do IS for Him whether we're conscious of it or not. This means even the thoughtless things we do are a reflection on Him. Is that what we want to convey to the world? Our thoughtlessness? Anything that we do by the flesh rather than through Christ will not ring true for us and will make us feel guilty. This is why we need to take tender care of our consciences. When we accept God's salvation our consciences are cleansed. All our guilt is taken away--the real guilt and the guilt laid on us by others. Our consciences become the door through which we let in or keep out anything that may harm our relationship with God.
Doing things for others ultimately invites us to judge them--and then ourselves, if they do not respond the way we expect them to. We have to stop our urge to gain recognition for ourselves at that door and instead remind ourselves who we belong to now and do all things for His sake--for His glory. Then we can help others without looking back to see how it was received. Ultimately we ARE helping ourselves because when we help others because we're doing it for God we are growing closer to Him. This is the best reward.
Father, help me to see when I do things for others with a selfish motive. Keep my conscience sensitive so that I may not sin against You.
Link to scripture: Colossians 3:23-24
Take action: Keeping a Pure Conscience
If so, you need to stop it right now.
Ultimately it will come back to bite you because whether you realize it or not you're actually doing it for yourself. Whenever we do something for other people with expectations for some kind of return we will usually be disappointed. They may not be grateful enough or they may not think that what we did was all that special. This will cause us to judge that person--they suddenly become not good enough--or we judge ourselves. We tell ourselves that if we were good enough they would have been thrilled with what we did for them or our accomplishment.
"So, Cathy," you may be asking, "we are to quit doing things for others?!"
"Yes."
That's because now that you and I are in Christ and He is in us, we should be doing all things for Him. Now that we are living the exchanged life everything we do IS for Him whether we're conscious of it or not. This means even the thoughtless things we do are a reflection on Him. Is that what we want to convey to the world? Our thoughtlessness? Anything that we do by the flesh rather than through Christ will not ring true for us and will make us feel guilty. This is why we need to take tender care of our consciences. When we accept God's salvation our consciences are cleansed. All our guilt is taken away--the real guilt and the guilt laid on us by others. Our consciences become the door through which we let in or keep out anything that may harm our relationship with God.
Doing things for others ultimately invites us to judge them--and then ourselves, if they do not respond the way we expect them to. We have to stop our urge to gain recognition for ourselves at that door and instead remind ourselves who we belong to now and do all things for His sake--for His glory. Then we can help others without looking back to see how it was received. Ultimately we ARE helping ourselves because when we help others because we're doing it for God we are growing closer to Him. This is the best reward.
Father, help me to see when I do things for others with a selfish motive. Keep my conscience sensitive so that I may not sin against You.
Link to scripture: Colossians 3:23-24
Take action: Keeping a Pure Conscience
No comments:
Post a Comment