1 Corinthians 13:3 If I give all I have to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love (ἀγάπη (agápē)), it profits me nothing.
True virtue isn't occasional good deeds, but rather stems from selfless love for God and all creation. Paul reminds me that even if I give everything I have to help the poor, or even sacrifice myself, these actions are not truly virtuous unless they are motivated by love for God and His glory. Are my motives often mixed with vanity and self-interest? Do I give glory to myself rather than to God? In silence, I ask the Lord to enlighten me, so that I can learn to love God as my starting point and glorify Him as my goal.
Dear Lord, I confess that I often focus on outward behavior while neglecting my inner love for You. Please remove any frivolous motives from my heart, so that the good I do will be not for my own glory but for the honoring of Your name. Pray for the Holy Spirit to renew my inner love, so that my love will not be superficial but will stem from a deep love for You and be expressed in genuine concern for others. May my life, day after day, be lived solely for Your glory. Amen.