If we don't get righteousness right Brownie we can finish up enslaved by those we help. If we just give, many will just take. It is a two way offer...give righteousness conditionally because you might find you are being taken for a ride. Look at ippy. He has no interest what-so-ever except to railroad and ridicule everything we have got to say about Jesus. He has no understanding what-so-ever of the points believers want to discuss and is just on a wind-up jolly.
I could go on to show you how this tactic is at the root of all oppression in every manifestation of it...which is why we must upbuild our own righteous spirit first or as Jesus said...seek ye first the kingdom of God. Those that don't, even with the very best of intentions, finish up serving iniquity and not Jesus Christ at all.
Well, first off I am not going to look at any other poster in order to call them out for any reason. This is a discussion forum, open to all, which means there will be diverse opinions. If I don't like that I can go elsewhere. There are exclusive forums out there - and jolly boring they are too! If I joined one of those I would be tempted to be naughty.
As for being a wind-up, Nicholas, you've been accused of that more than once ! I didn't agree then, still don't, but you of all people should know what it is like to be given names by those who don't agree, or who just don't 'get' you.
However, I do agree that there are those who will exploit anyone who seeks to help them. So we have to take care of ourselves. Jesus gave us the commandment to love our neighbour as our self which means
we must love our self. We're no use to anyone else if we are not in good order. It is also the case that those who are constantly self-sacrificing are often trying to fulfill their own needs which achieves nothing in the long term. We won't be respected if we don't respect ourselves so, to a point, I am in agreement with you on that one.
Having said all that, if we are reasonably balanced, we can be good to others without being feverishly "do-gooding"; it will come about naturally. We just have to be a bit wised up and know our limits - and our own weaknesses! Then we can walk the extra mile.
The 'Good Samaritan' is a fine example of a seemingly ordinary person going about his business, who perceived a need and was prepared to cross the road to give aid with no fuss and without any conditions. To him, it was the obvious thing to do.