In the last article, I wrote: “Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned—and so many more ways we can be blessed by reaching out in love to others. Jesus’ purpose in his teaching wasn’t to simply tell us what to do. He was teaching us why we are to do it” (based on Matthew 25). I then promised that we would look more closely at the why in this article.
The “Why” of our actions really does matter. In order for our works of mercy to be means of grace, they must flow from a place of love. When we act out of love, we are indeed doing them as unto Jesus, and thus experience grace. Otherwise, we are disconnected from the Spirit through whom grace flows. Consider these biblical statements:
- “God desires mercy not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13)
- “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
- “…the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7)
What is in our heart when we offer an act of mercy? Is it out of a sense of obligation (“This is what Christians do, right?”)? Is it because it makes us feel good about ourselves (“I’m such a wonderful person!”)? Is it to win the praises of others (“Look what a good person I am!”)? If our goal is simply to do good deeds, any of these motives would be perfectly acceptable. However, if our goal is to encounter God and thereby God’s grace, our acts of mercy must stem from love – love for God and love for others.
So, then, what’s the difference between being a cheerful giver whom God loves and being someone who enjoys the sense of satisfaction that comes from giving? A cheerful giver is happy in the giving – even if the outcome does not lead to that sense of satisfaction. A cheerful giver is cheerful upfront, while the satisfied giver only experiences satisfaction after the deed is done. There may even have been a sense of resentment or irritation as one pondered the doing of the act (yep, been there!). Such a one is NOT a cheerful giver.
Finally, how is mercy different from sacrifice? That one’s a little harder for me to flesh out in my own mind because sometimes an act of mercy can be sacrificial. I think, though, that it again goes back to the motivation behind the act. A sacrifice, particularly in the biblical sense, is offered to God to appease God’s anger, obtain God’s forgiveness, or just to get smiley face stickers from God. An act of mercy – even one that is highly sacrificial – is done for the well-being of the other. The first is about me; the second is about someone else.
It is worth our time and effort to meditate on and be honest about our motivations for doing acts of mercy. If we truly want to encounter God and God’s grace through such acts, our motive must be love and only love.
Rev. Joyce Day
If you would like to view past editions of Grace for the Journey, follow this link: https://sounddistrictnc.org/category/grace-for-the-journey/