Is love or even charity work or community service ultimately a selfish pursuit?

Question

I have a friend who thinks that. What am I supposed to say.

Answer 1

Your friend probably means that love/charity work/community service is self-serving (maybe it makes you feel good about yourself). There is nothing selfish about this. Being selfish is when you do this at the expense of other people. There is nothing wrong with making yourself feel good when it has no affect on others and especially when it benefits others.

Answer 2

Any psychologist will tell you that there is a motive for everything we do. Most acts of love and charity have what they call secondary gain behind them. We all want to feel good about ourselves and ultimately that is why we send money to Feed the Children or Tsunami Relief, etc. There is nothing wrong or evil about that. We need to feel good about our intentions. If we do something good for the wrong reason--to impress others or to gain praise from others, then it won't count towards the good of our soul. Most importantly, make your donations wisely. Investigate the charity before you send them your money. There are several charity watch web sites that can tell you how much is spent on "administrative" costs and how much actually gets to the people you are trying to help. Charity work/community service is never selfish. Selfish is seeing misery around you and doing nothing.

Answer 3

In actuality when we do volunteer, raise our children, and do kind things for other people, at the time we are dong it we really are doing it unselfishly. As we have to make sacrifices of our time, and energy. Of course we do get satisfaction, and feel great about our accomplishments, and good deeds. That does not mean we are selfish.

Are we considered selfish when we work hard at our jobs at work, and then get paid for it. Ask your friend what she thinks. She will see how foolish she, or he is by saying you are selfish. Any time a person puts effort into something there is always a payoff. What is the difference if it is a good feeling of an emotional payment of accomplishment, or if it is a monetary payment of a physical check at the end?

Answer 4

Human usually have an underlying pursuit in everything they do... love, charity, community service... whatever. It makes us feel good and that's usually why we do it. Occasionaly we can experience agape love which is unconditional selfless love the kind of love the God has for us and some people have for him or eachother. When we do things for other people we want to see them smile and we want them to like what we do because it makes us feel repaid even though we want nothing material in return. it's not bad but it's how we were made

Answer 5

The Dali Lama says that the the true purpose of life is happiness. And in order to achieve happiness, one must help others find happiness. So in that regard, charity is a selfish pursuit. But that doesn't make it wrong. By helping others, we help ourselves. By helping to make the world a better place, we in turn make our own lives better.

The alternative is to do nothing, and therefore be miserable.

Answer 6

'Charity' and 'service' do not connote selfishness.

Someone with a charitable spirit will serve the community unselfishly and lovingly. There can be no selfish intent. And when you are happy to serve, you do feel pleased inside for having brought joy to another's world. It comes from having a happy loving giving heart.

Tell your friend he/she is wrong.

Answer 7

It all depends on the person's point of view and either they're committed to the cause or just trying to get a discount on their taxes... GreenPeace is an example of trying to make the people in this world better for the enviroment...
A star donating to charity is an example of tax reduction so they can have their millions and spendthem too...

Answer 8

because you sound like an organizer, my idea is for you opt what you pick to ensue and recruit some folk that could also help you commence the project. you should do the contact artwork and your volunteers ought to do extra of the leg artwork. It appears like you're truly in touch interior the books for the needy toddlers. i'd locate some places that ought to apply those books and then i'd locate the books. once you position some thing in position you could help it strengthen with your own internet web site and doing all of your own publicity for it. That way, you could volunteer the time you pick, do the job that you pick interior the agency and characteristic it extra healthful very fairly on your life. You sound like you've a cadre of skill supporters between your colleagues on the wellbeing facility and acquaintances at your church. I imagine that lots of them will be prepared to donate books and individuals are prepared to donate time in the journey that they comprehend for positive how a lot of it really is critical and characteristic a time body. i wish yo pursue this, you sound like in simple terms one among those individual who can make a distinction.

Answer 9

They are neither intrinsically selfish or unselfish. That depends on the motives and attitudes of the person involved.

Answer 10

,to be fully capable to give, one must want to give first and from that [want to] he fills that need by helping .yes if you truly give you must do it for yourself first and then you can treat others as you treat yourself .