He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:12-14 (ESV) Loving and helping people is natural for those who live in reality. Jesus did not come to this earth because it benefited Him. He did not die on the cross or rise from the dead because He needed to do so to prove Himself. He did not extend His mercy and grace to us because He needed us. In fact, God has never needed us to accomplish His purpose, and as He came to die for us, He did so without receiving a benefit to Himself. I often encourage young people to seek advice from a Godly older person who has no way to benefit from whatever decision they eventually make. I encourage older Christians to help those who come to them without regard to what they might receive from it. Those who love are motivated by what is best for the other person. There really should be no other motivation. | 
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