Very rarely do the words "selfish" and "charity" appear close together. Charity is the voluntary giving of help. How could it be selfish?
An elderly woman is having trouble crossing the road. You see her and offer her a hand. Once both of you reach the safety of the sidewalk, you walk away with a smile on your face and she walks away with one as well. She needed the help and you volunteered. But who did you perform the act for? Yourself or the old woman?
The truth is, people who perform acts of charity tend to walk away feeling good. Once they've experienced that good feeling in their heart, they don't question what their actions should be when another act of charity presents itself. It feels good to do good. Performing a charitable act can make you feel good about yourself. It is selfish in this way. A lot of people say charitable actions should always be selfless, but what's wrong with doing good to feel good?
If someone could choose between eating a banana split and helping a hurt puppy, he or she is going to help the hurt puppy because it feels better.
Good people will feel good doing good things. Bad people will not. Be selfish when it comes to charity. Give and receive. Charity isn't about selflessness, it's about character. It's about doing what feels right and what is good for yourself and others.
Charity can be selfish, but I can't help feeling that it should be occasionally. Do things that make you and others feel good. The act of helping in order to feel happy and good should not be looked down on. Rather it should be a telling sign of good people doing good things.
