The attitude in which you do things is seen more vividly than the things in which you do.
Loving others means we will be willing to walk the path of love no matter the path others take with us. This is hard for many of us because we believe we know people who will take advantage of the good we do for them. We believe they will waste the good we do for them. We walk in love not because we expect love in return but because that is how Christ walks with us.
Jesus has no limits to His love for us. He has no conditions for loving each and every one of us. The more of us He loves, the greater He is towards more of us. I learned for myself some years ago that I needed to renew my mind and the way I thought about loving others and the things I do towards others.
I had a little attitude toward others. You know it. The one that says, I’ve given enough, now it’s time for you to give. You know it, the one that says everyone should do right just as I was trying to do right. You know it, the one that says I will forgive but I don’t have to forget. And I emphasized the I don’t have to forget part.
But people saw through my acts to my attitude. My good was seasoned with an attitude of pride and condemnation. I was foolish. That’s why I realized I needed to renew my mind so I could open my heart to others the way the Lord keeps His heart open to me.
Romans 14:16 says this. “Let not your good be evil spoken off” (Romans 14:16). Do you ever wonder what others say about the good you try to do? I’m not asking you to start worrying about what others say. Some people will say mean things about anything you do. We know that.
But you should do the good in such a way that others would say to the Lord, “I saw the hand of Your work in the things he or she did for me.” That is what they should say about your good. But more importantly, the Lord is others should talk about when you do your good towards them.
When you have that mindset, it will change the way you are towards others and if you change your ways, you will change the things you do so that they are the good that comes from Him who is good. We are not to use our status as redeemed children of the Lord to tear down the lives of others. When Jesus takes up home in our hearts our nature is changed to do good always.
Serve then without an attitude. Love without an attitude. Be patient then without an attitude. Give without an attitude. Never let your good be served in unhealthy ways. The characteristics of our Christian behavior are righteousness, peace, joy and love in the Holy Spirit. When we exhibit these things in a spirit of love, our good deeds will be seen as of God and not as of man.
We are blessed to know God’s righteousness; we are not to use His righteousness to speak poorly of anyone. We are blessed to know the peace of God; we are not to use the peace God gives to bring division among those still bound to the world. We are blessed to know the joy of fellowship with the Holy Spirit; we are not to use this joy to promote ourselves.
The good we do must give revelation to the good that God is. Good deeds are the result of our hearts wanting to pour the light and salt of God into the world. But we must use God’s goodness in the right portions. Too much salt spoils the meat; instead of good, it becomes evil spoken of.
Listen to the Holy Spirit as He guides your behavior in all things. He wants to give you good things to do but without a vindictive attitude. When this happens others will receive your good deeds as the glorious grace of God at work in their circumstances.
So, let your good deeds be highly spoken of because you have an attitude of goodness about you. Learn to serve without an attitude.
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