Why do religious people say "I am doing good because i will be rewarded",Why not do good for the sake of good?

Answer 1

Religious people do not do good for the sake of a reward.

This is like saying that you do as your father tells you because you want an inheritance.

Religious people do as God tells them because they want to please God, because they love God and believe that God is wise, understanding and that things will be good for everyone if they do as their father tells them.

Answer 2

Hmm. I have never heard any believer say that this was their primary reason for doing good. God knows if I thought like this and actually expected it, all the people whom I've lent money to and never said "Pay me back by such and such a date", or went out and bought them $2-300 worth of groceries, would go bankrupt paying me back. The only reward I ever expected was the knowledge that someone was not going to go to bed hungry for many nights in a row- not what I thought I should receive in return. Don't you ever tire from making such foolish generalizations and baseless assumptions? The amount of money and resources "religious" people have donated to charities world wide could never be tallied.

Answer 3

Well actually the Bible teaches that you are supposed to do good because it is in your heart to do good, not for selfish reasons. Personally, I have never encountered someone who said they do good because they will be rewarded. That is selfish. In my mind that is as bad as not doing any good at all because if it were not for being rewarded, then the person would not have done anything to begin with. I like to help people because at times I need help as well. I'm not saying I only do it because I would like help in return. What I mean is that I know what it feels like to need help. We need to be there for our family and friends. We even need to be there for strangers. Love thy neighbor as you love thyself. This is a great teaching because it shows respect for all. Another teaching I like is do unto others as you want done unto you. This is along the same lines. It is also part of the reason why I help people because I would appreciate help when I need it too. Don't do it for rewards. Do it for the fact we are all human. Because we care and love all. Unfortunately, I know that is an idealistic comment, but it would be a better world if it were like that.

Answer 4

That should be what everyone strive to achieve, being good because we are inherently good. And not because good will reward one, for if the rewards of being bad is greater than good, some will be swayed by it.

Like a Chinese philosopher once said " The person who goes about proclaiming the good he has done, is not good, for he is doing good for the recognition he is hoping the receive.
The inherently good does not need the gratification of anyone, including themselves, because it is a part of who they are"

Answer 5

Hmmmm.

If I remember my Bible indoctrination correctly...and way back then, we were using the KJV, think it was first edition, that attitude of "doing good for a reward" was considered doing good for the wrong reasons, and really was worthless.

Didn't you see the original version of Bedazzled? Some really good stuff there. (yes I mean the Dudley Moore/Peter Cook version)

Answer 6

Define good.
Good to you may not mean good to me.
To Hitler, killing millions of Jews and others was good.
To Stalin, killing tens of millions of his own people was good.
Same for Mao.
Some extreme Muslims think that dying while murdering Americans is so good that they will be rewarded.
Good is too subjective.
Yes, there are some things we can all agree are good.
Beyond that, forget it.
That's why we need the Bible.

Answer 7

Doing good is its own reward,I have no clue where you get that idea.It warms my heart if I can help anyone in anyway.I
do not know a better feeling.

Answer 8

Who says that?
Doing good is it's own reward.

Answer 9

There are many motivations for doing good. As a Christian matures, so does their motivation. Mature Christians are motivated to do good because it is the right thing to do - that is to be motivated out of a nature born in the image of God, who also does good because it's his nature to do so.

Answer 10

That's just what I do, and I am religious. I would be good even if I did not think there were God.