Christians are those for whom God is the engine of their lives. What drives them, what motivates them, what makes them different must be God who lives in them.

“You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
 
There are many reasons to do good works. We get praised for good works. We get rewarded for good works monetarily. And when we do good works, usually good works are done back to us. However, none of these should be our primary motive. The world has figured out that doing good is generally good for them. Therefore, we see them giving to charity, giving to cure cancer, campaign to save the whales, etc. But Christians do good because of God. Our motive for doing good works must be God.
One difference in Christians doing good works versus unbelievers doing good works is in when the good works no longer benefit us. The world stops doing good when it does not benefit them anymore because doing good was entirely for their own benefit. But Christians continue to do good even to their detriment because doing good for them was for God.
What are you doing that doesn’t benefit you directly? Are you living for the self or are you living for God?
PH