If there is not much at stake for ourselves, the outcomes do not affect us directly, we tend to do better. If the results are not a reflection on ourselves and the upshot is not a casting of a shadow on us, we do better at whatever comes our way.
When the main concern is forever our own indulgence and climbing, it wears the soul down, making us social pariahs. Nothing is as much of a turn off as someone in constant need of stroking and patting of the ego. It is tiring for the person and exhausting for the people surrounding them.
Chores, works, kindness, charity, all those are things done for the sake of doing not for the end result or to see something come out of it for us as individuals. If the serving of kindness and the offering of help is connected with a selfish desire to take the upper hand, it results in discourse and unkindness with a touch of anger and hostility.
Do the thing unto the Lord. Do what needs doing without waiting for grandiose results and outcomes. Do the thing without personal gain. Picking up garbage on the side of the road will not result in a commendation but doing the right thing bending down, picking it up and placing it in the next receptacle they encounter is an end unto itself.
If the time passes and you do not do the kindness or the giving, wait for the next chance and act on it with selfless giving. Many opportunities present themselves every day for the choosing and the choice.
When you see a weed, pick it.