Is it better to do things that benefit God or humanity?

Question

People tell me that I can't get into heaven unless I do stuff for God. That's pretty selfish on His part. So, he does not care that I volunteer with the Red Cross, work at a local soup kitchen, and have given thousands to help the poor? I don't wanna go to heaven if that's not enough to get in. I am a good person, but I do not believe that Jesus was anything more than human.

Answer 1

See what those people don't understand that they are not to judge. Your helping with the Red Cross and other such community service not only helps people but Gods children, I believe that we all are gods children and it's not a matter of proclaiming gods name while the action is being done or saying "God I did this for you now let me into heaven".
To be honest God doesn't care what you do, He cares about how you feel about him and if there is a place for him in your heart. All god wants is love and if anyone says anything else. Remember that while they are entitled to their opinion, only you know how you stand with god.

P.S.- The first commandment is "you shall have no other gods before me" He is a jealous god, jealous and selfish of your love. If you had something that you truly loved, wouldn't you be selfish too?

Answer 2

According to NT Wright, the Bishop of Durham, Christianity is not about getting to Heaven but about realizing the Kingdom of God here on earth, which definitely includes volunteering and giving to the poor (although Jesus certainly had words for people who boast about giving "thousands to help the poor").

Forget about "going to heaven," and keep doing the work Jesus called mankind to do.

Answer 3

those things that you do are helping God. Things that are right will help both humanity and God. Things that are wrong will only help a few with selfish wants or yourselves. It you are doing these things out of the love in your heart and you are also trying to live a good life (follow the 10 commandments) you are not going to hell.

Answer 4

When you do things to better humanity, you are doing it for God. Do you not recall Jesus's teaching, "That which you do to the least of my people, you do unto me."?

God is in each and every one of us; our bodies are temples for the Holy Spirit. If we treat others nice, we are treating God nice. If we treat others with offense, we offend God.

Your efforts with the Red Cross, the local soup kitchen, your contributions to the poor are all works that God recognizes you for.

Anyone who says, "you can't get into Heaven unless..." is misguided. I think they might be endorsing "Faith and Works", as opposed to "Faith Alone".

Faith and Works are necessary, but is not enough for Salvation. All the Faith and the Works in the world will not save without God's Sanctifying Grace. If you have Faith, and that faith compels you to do Works, you set yourself right with God.

Answer 5

There is no difference. Humanity is a part of God so what you do for one you do for the other.

Hell by the way is fiction so don't worry about it.

God asks nothing of you of a personal nature. God cannot be offended, only something with an ego sees offense as real.

Answer 6

this is a loaded quesiton. you cannot good for humanity, without doing good for God.

however, as history shows, many people and organizations have acted in the "name of God", but did evil instead.

the Spanish Inquisition; Hitler's purging of the Jews (and Russians); even Alexander The Great: These are just some of the people who "do the work of God", but sowed only evil upon the land.

-bret "eagle" myrick

Answer 7

Do something real- humanity wins out every time in the reality stakes. Plus, if there is a god, why does such an omnipotent being who is out of time and all seeing, etc. need to know what the heck a paltry little human on a piece of rock in space does?

Answer 8

Hello shizzle_a.d. :)

In serving the Lord, we are serving humanity..the two are not separate but are as one.. :)

God is not selfish..He sent His only Son Jesus, to die for our sins..He Loved us enough to watch His only Son die for those who rejected Him, spit on Him, flogged Him and put a crown of thorns upon His head..Still Jesus said: Father forgive them, they know not what they do..

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, No man comes to the Father but by Me..

For you not wanting to go to heaven, that is your choice..a very sad one, but yet we cannot blame God or anyone else for the wrong choices we make..

Faith without works is dead..we must have Faith along with works..

Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen..

If a complete stranger died, while saving you from being killed, would you not be forever grateful..

Well He did and His Name is Jesus.. :)

In Jesus Most Precious Name..
With Love..In Christ..

Answer 9

When you do things for God, you usually do things for humanity also.

Just take the 10 commandments for instance.

Honor they father & mother - that shows respect to people.
Do not steal - that helps people.
So does not bearing false witness, not killing, not coveting, etc.

Have no god befoe God, do not use His name in vain and keep the sabbath holy - if you spend time with God and respect Him, He will be with you to help you when you call on Him.

Answer 10

Its not about "doing stuff for God."
It is about recognizing & acknowledging God's authority.
Did you have a mother or father when you were growing up? If your answer is 'yes,' did they love you, protect you, or try to provide your needs?
If your answer is 'yes' again, do you have any love or affection for your mother or father?
If your answer is 'yes' again, do you show them how you feel by trying to do the things they want you to do?
Satan wants you to disobey God, just like he wanted Adam & Eve to do. But now it is your turn. It is up to you to decide if you want to do the right thing, or not. You can do things for God & for other people, & STILL not "go to heaven."
The only ones who will receive a reward from God are those who choose to do what God says to do, not what satan says.
Its not about "doing stuff for God," but it is ALL about recognizing God's authority, his sovereignty, his right to rule. Because he created everything, he gets to be 'in charge.' If you write a book, draw or paint a picture, carve a statue, or invent something, you are its creator, so you have authority over it, just as God is entitled to his authority over us.
If you have children, then you will authority over them. If you tell them to do something because it is good for them & in their best interest, & they disobey you, who is being selfish; You, or them?
I think you know it would be them. In the same way, God is not being selfish, when he wants what is best for you, but you are being selfish, when you disregard God's legitimate authority & his efforts to help you.
PS
Don't worry about what "people" tell you; Worry about what God says. (He wrote a book, so you can go look it up for yourself.)

Answer 11

well that is not how u get to heaven. jesus was God in the flesh. and the way that u get to heaven is through him u don't have to do anything. we are not perfect and no one is. just one sin seperates us from him, but since jesus came into our lives we can be made perfect.