AC 9210 - Christian charity

AC 9210
He who does not know what Christian charity is,
may believe that it consists
not only in giving to the needy and the poor,
but also in doing good to a fellow citizen,
to our country, and to the church,
for any cause whatever, or for any end whatever.
But be it known that it is the end
that determines the quality of all a person's deeds.
If his end or intention is to do good for the sake of reputation,
or to acquire honors or profit,
then the good which he does is not good,
because it is done for the sake of himself,
and thus also from himself.
But if his end is to do good for the sake of a fellow citizen,
his country, or the church, thus for the sake of the neighbor,
then the good which the man does is good,
for it is done for the sake of good itself,
which, in general, is the neighbor itself;
thus also it is done for the sake of the Lord,
for such good is not from a person,
but from the Lord,
and that which is from the Lord is the Lord's.

[2] As it is with good, so also it is with truth.
Those who do truth for the sake of truth,
do it also for the sake of the Lord,
because they do it from the Lord.
To do truth for the sake of truth, is to do good;
for truth becomes good
when it passes from the understanding into the will,
and from the will goes forth into act.
To do good in this manner is Christian charity.