For the love of it

"But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." Matthew 6:3

Dan Bleakman, an ultra runner and blogger for Ultra168, writes that he has interviewed many ultra runners, including quite a few of the world's leading ultra racers, and has come to the conclusion that, compared to a lot of other sports where prize money is the motivator, the vast majority of people who run ultras do it because they love doing it. Explaining that reward can come either in the form of fortune or praise, he says, "Money doesn't matter in ultra running. Quite simply, they run because they love to and are thoroughly interested in it for no other reason than what it is." 

Wow. I love the simplicity and purity of that motive, don't you? And that same purpose is exactly the one that should motivate you and me to extend kindness and help to others. The Bible says it this way, "But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." You see it's easy to give to someone when we get something in return like recognition or compensation but that should never be our reason for doing it. That's why, to ensure that our motives are genuine, we should do our good deeds quietly or in secret.

Emil Zatopek once wrote, "A runner must run with dreams in his heart, not money in his pocket." In other words, let us do good and help others out of compassion and for no other reason than to show the love of Christ. Wouldn't the world be a much nicer place if we all did that? I sure think so. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus who gives us the best example of how to serve others with no expectation of any reward. Help us to love You so much that our hearts would be unable to do anything but follow in the steps of Christ. May we love others so much and so unselfishly that the impact would have a ripple effect in all the world. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen,

Happy Running!!!

www.team413.org

Love is action - Tauren Wells

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCnsiP8atW0

http://ultra168.com/2016/11/14/money-doesnt-matter-in-ultra-running/