If you do the right thing, but for the wrong reason, are you still doing the right thing?

Question

For example. One of my neighbours regularly visits an old widow in our street. He sits and has coffee with her, mows her lawn, washes her car etc. Which is all well and good, except he has made it known to others in the neighbourhood that he is only doing it to get in the widows will! He is hoping to inherit her house and land (she has no living relatives). So by spending time with the lonely widow and helping her, he is doing "the right thing", but he is doing it for a dispicable reason!
Please don't comment just on this neighbour, but reply to the question in general:

"If you do the right thing, but for the wrong reason, are you still doing the right thing"?

Answer 1

Even though he is doing it for selfish reasons, he is still choosing to be kind and generous with his time, when he could just well say its not worth it and leave it at that. Besides, who's to say that the widow isn't just using him for manual labor ( is she paying him for all the work? ). She might be just using him so she isn't lonely... she might not particularly enjoy his company, but he is the only one willing to do things for her and sit & talk with her. It can work both ways... People need to think and consider eachothers situation, feellings & state of mind.

So, I do think that someone can do the right thing, for the wrong reasons and still be right IF, and only IF there is an understanding or agreement in the situation. If not, then your compromising your principles and morals ( if they have any ) and then your not doing the right thing then.

But he is still doing a good deed even though it might be for the wrong reason ( just not the right thing to do if one of the people are not informed of the motives.)

Answer 2

No when a person decides to do a "right thing" the intentions behind it should be good ones.The right thing means doing something that you might not like or want to do but you do it to see someone smile or you do it to give another a break.
Like your mom worked all day her feet hurt her back hurts AND she has a headache.You have plans to go out with your friends and just chill for a while and you really want to go.But instead you stay home and ick you rub your mom's feet and you rub her back get her some aspirin and make you both a bowl of soup even though she planned your favorite dinner.You did all these right things because they were the right things to do even though you didn't want to and because your intentions were well meant....
If the intention/s behind a good deed aren't good then its empty and the meaning behind it is hollow.
Doing the right thing should always be for the better of the person you're doing it for without expectation of personal gain...

Just My Thoughts,
M.G

P.S
I'd say something to the widow because karmicly speaking I wouldn't want to perpetuate the negativity of his deeds by saying nothing at all.

Answer 3

Mmm, I guess it depends on the situation. If no-one gets hurt, then it's okay, but if someone gets hurt (say that old widow has children, but the neighbour gets the money instead) it's wrong. That's a really crappy answer, but I just see it as if no-one gets hurt, then there's nothing really wrong about it. If -techincally- both neighbour and lady are happy with the end, the means and the reason can't be that bad.

Answer 4

i'm afraid you have it backwards. the common reason of issues is that if we do the incorrect issues for the appropriate motives. Eg. many so-reported as "humanitarian" initiatives attempt to realize solid issues, yet finally end up doing evil. An occasion right it is attempting to alleviate starvation interior the "third international" which outcomes strengthening tyrants and growing to be large misery between the "helped" human beings. seek for all the foodstuff help given to North Korea and Sudan, which outcomes feeding the secret police and slave masters and easily will boost the misery of the community human beings. Doing the "top concern for the incorrect reason" is working example a milionaire who builds a lake for his very own exhilaration, yet as a edge effect creates an irrigation gadget which reward ravenous community farmers. helping the farmers became no longer the point of the action, however the top effect is sensible to the whole community

Answer 5

What justification do you have that his reasons are despicable? She has not living relatives, he is devoting time and energy to her and helping her have a more happy life. IF she decides to reward him, good. Has the fellow made it clear to YOU that he is ONLY helping her for possible financial gain, or are you carrying rumors? The way you worded it appears that others have told you this. Perhaps you should help the poor old lady yourself and stop bad mouthing people.

To answer your question generally, there is good to be gained from good deeds being done.

Answer 6

i dont think so...motive has to be part of a good deed.