Jump directly to the Content
Jump directly to the Content

Sermon Illustrations

Home > Sermon Illustrations

Our Tendency to Flaunt Our Good Deeds

A British paper (the Guardian) published an article titled, "Sex Doesn't Sell Anymore: Activism Does." And while this sounds impressive, it is often aimed at (very profitable) humility. In other words, the right hand definitely knows what the left is doing!

Lyft wasn't the only company flaunting good deeds recently. In reaction to Trump's immigration ban, Starbucks CEO wrote an open letter to staff committing to hiring 10,000 refugees and Airbnb's Brian Chesky tweeted that it was providing free accommodation to anyone not allowed in the US. Even Uber, presumably in a bid to outdo Lyft, created a $3m fund to help drivers affected by the "wrong and unjust" ban.

Companies are now attempting to outdo each other with major acts of generosity, but there's a catch: they'll do good as long as they can make sure their customers know about it. Of course we should commend companies for doing the right thing, but Jesus wanted us to do the right thing with the right motive—to please God not to impress others.

Related Sermon Illustrations

'NY Times' Article Asks, 'When Did Humility Get So Vainglorious?'

An article in the New York Times observes how "humility is not what it used to be." As a matter of fact, it may be the exact opposite of what it used to mean:

Lately it's pro forma—possibly ...
[Read More]

The Frog Who Thought He Could Fly

Once upon a time there was a frog who lived in the north and wanted to go south for the winter as the swans did. Each year that frog watched the swans fly south while he shivered in ...

[Read More]