CL 266 - The Differences in Origin of Useful Services

CL 266 [5]

Devils perform useful services
for the sake of themselves and their reputation,
in order to be promoted to positions
of honor or gain wealth.
Angels, on the other hand,
do not perform useful services on that account,
but for the sake of the services, from a love of them.
A person cannot distinguish
the one and the other kinds of service,
but the Lord sees the difference.
Everyone who believes in the Lord
and refrains from evils as sins
performs useful services from the Lord.
But everyone who does not believe in the Lord
and does not refrain from evils as sins
performs the services he does from himself
and for the sake of himself.