I think this prompt came timely for a lot of us in my country, as we approach the elections and campaigners are doing everything possible to get people who will favour them in the elections. Sadly, they are so obvious with their motives as they provide help to the needs people are desperate for. Still, the people accept their help.
While some may think knowing the real motive of a charity can affect their acceptance of it, there are some who wouldn't mind. And I think this goes down to personal beliefs and what each person stands for, their integrity no matter how hard or bad it gets. I recently saw a movie that portrayed strongly on standing for one's belief.
It's not easy to do it but it is the very way to teach others to do the same. Charity is great, it's beautiful but even the Bible says, if you do good things but your heart isn't doing it from a place of love, you have done nothing. Sometimes, I worry that I have done nothing because I might have done something for another without the love.
I feel so for my own self, not in a negative way though because I am trying to do better and do right by God. But then I can imagine just how worse it can get when I learn that someone's motive for helping is to chase clout and that is, to gain attention or popularity through granting my desperate needs. It will be a heartbreaking one.
Its easy to prey on the vulnerable ones, especially by those who are too weak and can only oppress those they are stronger than. I hear of stories about ladies who become punching bags because they are being provided for by men who can not face their own fears but they rather use their help to oppress those weaker than them.
Why the need to chase clout when you want to help me, especially when I am desperate? Personally, I'll first define what desperate means because I don't pray to be in such a situation before I get help but sadly, they are not completely unavoidable. People sometimes fall into vulnerable situations, and I'm not excluded.
But I will be honest, hopefully my actions will match my words which I believe it will, the intention or motive of my helper will matter to me if I know what it is. Not knowing is a different scenario because then, I'll be just grateful that I am getting help from someone who understands how I feel and choosing to help me out of love.
But if I know or I can see clearly that I am being used to grow their fame or gain attention from people, I won't count that as a help and I would even reject the help. I want to believe help doesn't come from only one person or a set of people, my help comes from God and if God is helping, he would want to take the glory, not a mere man.
Image used is AI generated.