Doing Things With an Expectation...

I recently read a post from a family member where it discussed providing a ride to someone with the intent of using that opportunity as a "witnessing tool" for God.  You know what they call that, doing business.  The act of providing a ride to someone who needed it with the intent of preaching to them what God can do for them to turn their life around is called "doing business." The expectation of the rider is to change their mind regarding their life and turn it around.  That is doing business.

Isn't this how the cults were able to recruit unsuspecting hitch hikers - they would provide them a ride, then attempt to convert them?

First of all, the rider can always get a ride with a police officer, so there is that choice.  Second, contact someone you know for help - never get into a vehicle with someone you do not know.  There is no telling what will happen.

Now, I am not saying that this family member is a bad person, but their well-meaning gesture was not from the heart.  The gesture was done with the expectation that the rider listen to their stories about how God had helped them and that would inspire the rider to clean up his/her life.  Unfortunately, sounds a bit too much like the cults picking up hitch hikers.

I know these people have a good heart.  With that in mind, rather than speak badly about how the rider rejected the ride, put your money where your mouth and heart are - help those organizations that are there to help people clean up their lives.  Volunteer at the homeless shelter or make sandwiches for the roving sandwich bus for those people.  Help those who are trying to help themselves with no expectation of anything in return.  What you will find will be so much greater.

Perhaps, maybe God agreed with me on this.  I spent Friday night and Saturday struggling with my feelings regarding this post.  The next day, I saw the following posted:

"If you're helping someone and expecting something in return, you're doing business not kindness." --Unknown

I truly believe in this and when I do something, I do it with no intentions of getting something in return.  You know why - you set yourself up for disappointment.  Do it from the heart.