What does it mean to alleviate the suffering, poor and down-trodden? Does the?motive drive the action or does the action drive the motive?

As I finished watching Citizen Architect: Samuel Mockbee and the Spirit of Rural?Studio, I was struck with a sense of a selfless man, who by all appearances had?no religious prompting (Christian that is) and who was driven to better the human?condition in one of the most impoverished communities in the nation. This led me to?re-evaluate my service to humanity and ask a few inward questions.
What does it mean to alleviate the suffering, poor and down-trodden? Is it something?that we as humans are called to do? And by taking measures to make sure these things?take place, what is our motive? Does the motive drive the action or does the action?drive the motive? Do we help the suffering because of a mindset that it will enhance?the Christian experience and place us higher on God?s ?atta boy? list? Or is it possible?that we help, nurture, care for, and love the destitute because of the pure motive?that we love God so much that we will do whatever He asks of us, that we are so?intimately involved and in love with Christ that we will truly love our neighbor as?ourselves.??Is not this the fast that I choose:to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps?of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share?your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house when you see?the naked, to cover him…? Isaiah 58:6-7 ESV
?When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then?shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations:?and He shall separate them one from another. ? Thus Christ on the Mount of Olives?pictured to His disciples the scene of the great judgment day. And He represented its?decision as turning upon one point. When the nations are gathered before Him, there?will be but two classes, and their eternal destiny will be determined by what they?have done or have neglected to do for Him in the person of the poor and the?suffering. In that day Christ does not present before men the great work He has done?for them in giving His life for their redemption. He presents the faithful work they?have done for Him. DA?637
Christ has not called us to live a life of solitude but one of servitude. A servitude that?is not for selfish gain, but one that is driven for a love of humanity. Be a follower of?Christ and a leader of man. The world’s greatest leaders have been the worlds?greatest servants. By following Christ, we become a leader of men; a leader that?exemplifies helping mend broken hands.
by Brandon Mascare?as