Good Deeds
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"He is paving the way to Heaven by good deeds," said a lady. I bent my ear and listened.
"Unless it is very well paved, he will find progress in that direction exceedingly difficult." The reply fixed my attention.
"Are you not uncharitable?" remarked the first speaker. "Mr. Floyd does a great deal of good. I never go to him on an errand of benevolence, that he does not give me something."
"To buy paving-stones," was the quiet remark.
"Now, that is too bad!" said the other. "Give the man credit for what he does. By their fruit you shall know them."
"God looks at the heart — not at the act. It isn't what a man does, that saves him, but why he does it. The quality is determined by the purposes, or ends of action — not by the outside work. Two men may do the same thing; yet, to one it may be a good act, and to the other an evil one."
"I don't know about that. A good deed is a good deed. By what process can you change its quality?"
"I thought," said the other, "that you would understand me clearly. The acts of the two men may benefit alike the objects; but, the actors will be blessed or cursed therein, according as their motives were good or evil."
"I am not just able," was replied, "to see how a good deed can be done from an evil purpose. For instance, I called on Mr. Floyd yesterday for a subscription to our "Widows Home, and he gave me ten dollars. That was a good act, and I can conceive of no prompting impulse but a good one."
The lady did not immediately reply; and I was about answering for her, when she said:
"If Mr. Floyd gave the ten dollars out of regard for the poor widows — then the act was a good act for him; but, if to appear benevolent, or to buy paving-stones for the road to Heaven — then it was evil to him. For, in this latter case, love of the world and love of self, instead of neighborly love, ruled in his heart. And men only advance heavenward by the way of good affections. He not only lost his money — but his reward. To the poor widows, the benefit was the same; but the donor's selfishness robbed him of his proper share."
"You go too deep for me," was answered to this. "And too deep, I imagine, for most people. Love, the Bible tells us, covers a multitude of sins. And what is love, but good deeds?"
"Charity is love of the neighbor, manifesting itself in good deeds," was the promptly-spoken reply.
"Very well; who will say that Mr. Floyd did not act from true neighborly love?"
"God alone knows. The adjudication of the matter is between him and the human soul. If the motive which God sees, is right — then the action will be good; if the motive is selfish — then the action will be evil, so far as the actor is concerned."
"But, you judge Mr. Floyd."
"Did I? Well, there are many external signs by which we get an impression of a man's quality. Some men hang but a thin veil over their motives; while others, in their over anxiety for concealment, are constantly betraying themselves. Mr. Floyd is one of the most transparent men I know. He is constantly letting you see below the surface of his actions. The very air with which he hands you a contribution, betrays the lurking sentiment."
"Then," said the other, "he might as well shut up his affections of compassion. If good deeds, such as he does, are not to be valid in Heaven, he had better keep his own, and enjoy it to the full."
"Rather say, that he had better make the inside of his platter clean, also. Better cherish loving affections, and do genuine good from these, and so secure his share of benefits. What folly to halt in the way after this fashion — to be content with only the image of good deeds — to be satisfied to eat of the husks of men's extorted praise, instead of enjoying divine approval, and eating of heavenly food.
"As to selfishly enjoying what you call his own, that is impossible. The more he increases in worldly goods, the more wretched will he become, unless he uses them as a faithful steward of him who is the rightful owner of all. Like waters at rest — unused riches spoil, and curse their owners. So, if he will not give from the purest motives, still he had better give, for, in giving, he will find more delight than in withholding. Even the semblance of good deeds is better than no deeds at all.
The neighbor is benefitted, and the selfish giver obtains some fleeting pleasure which stirs briefly along the surface of his life. It is next best to genuine love."
"Judged by your standard, there is not much real good done in the world," was answered.
"I fear," said the lady, "that there is less of genuine good done by any of us, than we are inclined to give ourselves credit for. I know, too well, my own deficiencies."
"Which makes you sharp on others," the friend remarked, half playfully, half in earnest.
"Well retorted," was good humoredly answered, "and I accept the admonition; though, I do not by any means withdraw the main proposition, that the quality of our acts, in the sight of God, is determined by the indwelling motive. This, to me, is as apparent as the sun at noonday."
And the lady was right!
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