You may have seen this before, but it is worth rereading occasionally, just as a reminder.
The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. — Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. — Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. — Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. — Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. — Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. — Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. — Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. — Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. — Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. — Give the world the best you have anyway.
© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001
Here are some related Scripture verses.
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9)
“… doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, …” (Ephesians 6:6b-8a)
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. (1st Peter 2:15)
And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1st Peter 3:13-17)
Blessings Always!
Chaplain Mark