When do good intentions gain spiritual merit?

Question

I'm Jewish, but one of my favorite Christian books is James. In one of the passages it talks about those who brag about their intent to do something good "tomorrow."

Is there a time when the intent to do something gains the same spiritual merit as actually doing it?

Askok, I found your answer VERY inspiring. In fact, it may just be life changing for me. THANKS.

The word "Hate" in Hebrew has a much different connotation than in English. Esau spurned his inheritance. He chose to avoid G-d. Therefore G-d chose to avoid Esau. However, he WAS given the abundance of the land.

I hate liver, meaning I avoid eating it. It doesn't mean I chop it.

Answer 1

why should anyone do good to gain a merit
you should do good to gain your soul after judgment, and because regardless, it is the right thing to Do

take no heed for the monetary gains here on earth

Answer 2

I think that intent only matters when you are actually performing an action. The intent to do something good tomorrow is just procrastination or avoidance or laziness. I think that intent has spiritual merit when you partake in some act. If the intent was pure and good then you gain spiritual merit even if the outcome of what you did was not necessarily good. For example, let's say that in the scorpion story when you picked it up you accidentally broke one of its legs. Your intent was never to hurt the scorpion but to help it and the leg was an accident. Since your intentions were pure in the act you still gain merit even though the outcome was not perfect.

Answer 3

Merit in heaven connotes that God is somehow indebted to you. God will never be indebted to man. And that God is not a respecter of persons really underscores the idea that heaven is not gained, nor blessing received on the basis of merit.

A study in Genesis on the characters of Jacob and Esau leaves me with an understanding of Malachi 1:2,3: that God hated Esau. That thought is reiterated in Romans 9:13.

Based upon the traits of the two brothers, and the history recorded in scripture, I can understand why God hated Esau. What I cannot understand is why God loved Jacob.

Jacob was favored purely because of God's grace. In choosing Jacob God bestowed upon him great unmerited favor. Grace is always unmerited.

Answer 4

Perhaps when your good intentions are translated to others, who then do something about it, there is merit to your having the good intentions. But, unless you do something, i.e., even just talk about them in an inspiring way, they are mere phantoms of thought.

Answer 5

Good or bad is in the nature of a person. A person who has good in his character will not wait for tomorrow, He will do good as and when he gets the opportunity.

A saintly person was standing near the pool of water and he saw a scorpion drowning so he picked him up to save him but the scorpion stung him and it fell down from his hand but he picked it again. One person who was standing near him asked him why you are trying to save a bad creature. The saintly person replied that bad is in its character and he does not leave that how can leave goodness which in my character.

Answer 6

Intent without action is useless, unless there is a true physical incapacity to act. That's my Christian viewpoint.

Answer 7

Good intentions are better than bad intentions, but don't really do much for you until you follow through.

Answer 8

i think if you really wanted to do it, but something came up, G-d will forgive you. but actions speak louder then words. hope i could help.

Answer 9

when you pray for others and help others with action