Reasons
 

Reasons

Why do we do the things we do? Do we serve God in order to win his approval, or do we serve him in order to respond to his love? Do we love our friends simply because we are attracted to them, or do we love them because of who they are? Are we kind and generous toward others in order to gain respect, or are we kind and generous because we want to serve? Sometimes we do the right things for the wrong reasons, and so it is important for us to ask ourselves why we do the things we do.

Doing the right things for the wrong reasons erodes the goodness of what we do. It even erodes the success of our actions, for things done out of selfishness are done without the insight and care that make them fully efficacious. The most successful persons in life are those who act with the greatest amount of selflessness. They have the insight to give to others what they most need to receive.

Lord, may I have the insight to understand the reasons for what I do. May I be able to convert what is selfish in me to an attitude of love, so that I might more effectively care for others.

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