When we learn things, we are usually pleasantly surprised or shocked. Whatever the occasion, we often go to bed content, happy that we learned something new. But what if said enlightenment was not so pleasant? What if our new found knowledge only brought us distress and anxiety?
Why do we do things? And by that, I mean, "What do we hope to gain from it?" It seems like a selfish and shallow question, but I've pondered the issue for many years.
I initially believed that I did things to help people because it's "good" to help people. I helped people because it was right. I helped because God mandated it in that little black book called the Bible. Our Lord Jesus Christ told us to be a good neighbour in the parable of the Good Samaritan. I don't remember the exact book, but I recall that in the Old Testament that there was this passage that tells us to not go over the fields a second time, to leave behind some grain for the least, lost, orphaned, and alien. That's what I used to think of to justify my reasons for doing these so-called "acts of kindness."
But why did God tell us to do these things? Jesus talks of the Pharisees and how they give money to the poor when other people can see. He tells us not to be like them, because they have already received their reward, and to give in secret, that we may store up treasures in heaven.
To store up treasures in heaven.
That part gets me every time. To store up treasures in heaven? Is that any different from receiving our reward here on earth? (rhetorical question, btw) When he tells us to do these acts of kindness and love, the whole thing about storing up treasures in heaven just eats away at me. Are we not selfish either way? Do we not receive a reward whether we perform an act in secret or in public? Granted, the everlasting treasures in heaven can't compare to any reward on earth, but it's not the treasure I'm worried about per se, it's the fact that we do it for the treasure.
When people are asked why they do good deeds, the common response is often "because it feels good doing it." The same is with me: I get some fuzzy feeling inside by doing some "good deed" for someone. But ultimately, these acts of kindness, these good deeds, they're not for them, they're for us, so we can feel good.
Am I just going insane? Or is there a possiblity that there is some shred of truth in this?
Why do we do things? And by that, I mean, "What do we hope to gain from it?" It seems like a selfish and shallow question, but I've pondered the issue for many years.
I initially believed that I did things to help people because it's "good" to help people. I helped people because it was right. I helped because God mandated it in that little black book called the Bible. Our Lord Jesus Christ told us to be a good neighbour in the parable of the Good Samaritan. I don't remember the exact book, but I recall that in the Old Testament that there was this passage that tells us to not go over the fields a second time, to leave behind some grain for the least, lost, orphaned, and alien. That's what I used to think of to justify my reasons for doing these so-called "acts of kindness."
But why did God tell us to do these things? Jesus talks of the Pharisees and how they give money to the poor when other people can see. He tells us not to be like them, because they have already received their reward, and to give in secret, that we may store up treasures in heaven.
To store up treasures in heaven.
That part gets me every time. To store up treasures in heaven? Is that any different from receiving our reward here on earth? (rhetorical question, btw) When he tells us to do these acts of kindness and love, the whole thing about storing up treasures in heaven just eats away at me. Are we not selfish either way? Do we not receive a reward whether we perform an act in secret or in public? Granted, the everlasting treasures in heaven can't compare to any reward on earth, but it's not the treasure I'm worried about per se, it's the fact that we do it for the treasure.
When people are asked why they do good deeds, the common response is often "because it feels good doing it." The same is with me: I get some fuzzy feeling inside by doing some "good deed" for someone. But ultimately, these acts of kindness, these good deeds, they're not for them, they're for us, so we can feel good.
Am I just going insane? Or is there a possiblity that there is some shred of truth in this?
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