The Bible encourages Christians to do good deeds. But for some people, Christian virtue may raise the question: What motivates Christ's disciples - fear of punishment or the motivation of the heart?
In a number of religions, the basis of belief is based on the desire to achieve the post-death state of the highest good. Other religious forms instill in their adherents fear of the inevitable punishment from divine forces for "bad behavior" in this life. There are also such sacred cults that encourage a person to do good in the hope of receiving mutual benefit even in the period of his present existence. One way or another, such religious forms are more aimed at satisfying personal selfish desires, in the center of which is one's own self. Everything else - God and the people around them - are already in secondary roles.
What does Christianity teach about doing good?
Unlike such teachings, Christianity focuses a person's attention on other goals. Christianity is not just a system of ideas about God, a future life, or punishment for sins. It teaches a person responsibility before God as the Life-giver, as well as before people who are part of God's common family. That is why the Bible, the authoritative source of Christians, teaches to treat God as the Father, and people - as brothers, regardless of their national and cultural affiliation. Jesus Christ repeatedly drew people's attention to this important feature, encouraging them to first of all think about a cordial relationship with God and learn loving relationships with people around them, even with opponents (Gospel of Mark 12: 28-31).
In this regard, the teaching of Christ, which prioritizes selfless love, stands out noticeably against the background of other religious views. In addition, Christianity teaches selflessness, which is also based on love. “There is no greater love than if a man lay down his life for his friends” (Gospel of John 15:13). Jesus himself became a clear example of this, revealing God's love to people and giving their own lives for them (Gospel of John 3:16).
Do good out of love
Christianity does not aim to transform believers into a community of formalists, nominally professing biblical knowledge. On the contrary, its goal is to shape a person's thinking so that he is encouraged from his heart to bring goodness to people, thereby showing love for God. The main motivating force for good deeds should be love - so the Bible teaches. Selflessly doing good, a Christian feels joy from this very fact, and not for some other reason. “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” Jesus commanded. Neither fear of God, nor the desire to give oneself an artificial appearance of a benefactor, no other selfish component should be the cause of the virtue of a disciple of Christ. The Bible calls these motives hypocrisy.
Just as a person in his own family does good at home out of sincere love and concern for them, the heart of a Christian encourages him to do good deeds in the society around him, where people are children of the same Heavenly Father. And he does this not because “it is so necessary,” but being motivated by love, which forms the teaching of Christ in his heart.
