The Bible talks about doing good deeds for others but not running around telling people about them.
I know someone who does things for others, which I think is nice. Things like bringing over dinner after someone's had a baby, or visiting someone who is down.
But she also talks about each of these good deeds, and I have a hard time listening because it feels like she's trying to make everyone admire her for being a "good person." She usually phrases it as, "Oh, I was SO busy last night because I brought dinner over to Susie," or "Have you heard? Lisa's not feeling well, and I was over visiting her last night," or "I just finished organizing a HUGE party for Nancy's birthday. Everyone had such a good time at it."
Am I being judgmental? How should I handle my reaction to her? Part of me thinks I should go ahead and tell her what she obviously wants, which is that she's a wonderful person for doing such nice things for other people all the time. But I do believe good deeds should be done not to get credit but for the joy of serving others.
At least she does something to help someone so what
is more important, to sit by and do nothing or to help
others and gain some joy from the good that she has done for others through Christ
by sharing it with other trusted Christians, who hopefully will share in her joy.
I think that she is a little needy and does want people to esteem
her good works but I think that her motive as a Christian are based in
her service to Her Lord and I believe is her real motivation here.
There is something to be said for doing your good deeds in
private but sometimes that is not possible when your work involves serving others directly.
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
So according to scripture she is openly serving others and giving glory
to God who she claims is her motivation for all the good she is doing.
Don't be too hard on those who put a face on Christ's love and help
others through their face to face acts of kindness.
Don't be too hard on those who come to Christian brothers and sisters
and recount what they have done in the hope that they will receive some
praise, validation and encouragement to continue in their good deeds.
It seems like to me we want to put others down for making their good deeds known because we feel uncomfortable with their actions and we realize that we have no desire to serve other in the same way.
Have some grace and mercy on her and pray that God would use her to help
others to see the face of Jesus Christ and His love by her simple acts of kindness.
Every time you hear her tell of her acts of kindness, pray for her and do not think the worse
of her by her wanting to share what is to her a high calling of serving others that Christ has
given to her to do.
I knew a dear and departed friend who would do all kinds of small acts
of kindness to the people in her community.
If she heard that someone was sick she would make a fresh pot of chicken soup and
take it over and comfort and encourage them.
I tell you that her funeral was one of the largest I had ever seen and the
church was standing room only.
Her little acts of kindness had touched so many in her community as
story after story came out of her charitable acts of Christ's kindness
were recounted at her funeral.
I remember how I use to be annoyed by her telling me what she had done for so and so and
I began to pray and examine my heart and I did not like what I saw.
I saw envy, jealousy, resentment and pride and I realized that
I was not loving and supporting my friend as I would have wanted others to
support and rejoice with me when I recounted something God had done in my life.
This friend was not telling strangers how wonderful she was, she was telling
a trusted friend and brother in Christ what God had done in and through her.
She was sharing the workings of Christ in her life with me not out of
pride but as any close and loving friend would share their heart with another
close and intimate friend.
Don't be too hard on her because this world has far to little acts
of love and kindness in it so encourage her to continue to allow
the love of Christ to shine through her to others.