Three Kinds of Men
Good deeds. A word of ancient wisdom and a word of Divine instruction.
I think Americans are probably some of the best daydreamers in the world. We play out drama in our heads with imaginary conversations between ourselves, and the people that have hurt us or we think might hurt us. We imagine what the world would be like if we had a different job, drove a different car, fit in with a different social class, or had some status and respect. And then, we open our eyes and get back to real life.
Even when it comes to doing good deeds for people, we might daydream and fantasize about the congratulations we will get from others or the promotion we would get if everybody just knew how special we were. But we’re only fooling ourselves into thinking we are better people than we really are.
Instead of leaving a potential good deed to an imaginary focus group, we should instead accept the fact that no one will ever know about our goodness and do a good deed for someone anyhow.
If you need the spotlight to do a good deed, in other words, if you feel the need to let at least one person know, directly or indirectly, of your good deeds, it immediately taints your intentions.
Listen to the wise words of Marcus Aurelius, and the divine inspired words of Luke.
“There are three kinds of men in this world the first when he helps someone out, makes it known that he expects something in return.
The second would never be so bold, but in his mind, he knows what he has done and considers the other person to be in his debt.
The third somehow doesn’t realize what he has done, but he’s like a vine that bears its fruit and ask for nothing more than the pleasure of producing grapes.
A horse gallops, a dog hunt, a bee makes, honey, one man has another, and the vine bears fruit in due season. You ought to be like the third fellow, who does good without giving it a second thought.”
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 5.6.
“But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”
Luke 6:35
If your intentions are not as good as the deed you are hoping to do, then it is probably better that nobody knew you were involved with it anyway.