Total black and white, all or nothing thinking is not in the Tradition of the Church always viewed as wise, correct, true or loving. There are many examples in the writings of the Fathers and Mothers of the Church where they note wisdom, truth and love require of us a more nuanced understanding of the Christian life.
Additionally, Christians have been plagued in their piety by all types of doubt and worry about their own motives for doing good. We give to charity, but want people to notice our generosity. We give to charity but mostly because it is a tax break for us. The deed is good, but the motive wrong. So is the blessing taken away? Or what if we have good intention to be charitable, but not the means? Are our intentions of no value?
The desert mothers and fathers in particular often put forth godly wisdom to counter the the exacting doubts of our minds.
A brother said to Abba Poemen: “If I give my brother a little bread or something else, the demons denigrate the deed as being done to please men.”
The elder said to him: “Even if it is done to please men, let us give the brother what he needs,” and he told him this parable:
“There were two men, both farmers, living in one city. One of them sowed and reaped a small crop of poor quality, while the other neglected to sow and reaped nothing. When there is a famine, which of the two will be found to live?”
“The one who reaped a small crop of poor quality,” the brother replied.
Said the elder to him: “So it also with us; let us too sow a little even if it be of poor quality so that we do not die by famine.”
(Give me a Word: The Alphabetical Sayings of the Desert Fathers, p. 235)
Even if we give only a little to charity at Christmas it is still a blessing for the one in need. It is also a blessing for the one who gives.
Fraternized 