Why do we Christians do good things?

[LoveAlways]

I think good deeds are about being human. I don't have God or the afterlife in mind when I do a good deed.

 

[ContentInHim]

Would you further agree that when a goal is achieved, it is of some good to the one for whom the service was provided? The goal of a mechanic, for example, is achieved when a car is fixed, which is of course great for the car's owner. What do you suggest we achieve for God by serving him?

No, because we are also benefitting those we help. We develop compassion by identifying with them and trying to alleviate their pain. But, no, we cannot become God.

OK, I read your question wrong....what we can achieve for God by serving him is that we are his tools for alleviating pain in his creation. He uses us; he doesn't personally set up the Soup Kitchen, clothing distribution center, hurricane or tsunami relief. It's all done by people.

 

[ContentInHim]

Would you say, my good man, that God is all-knowing and all-loving?

God is all-knowing and (I don't know how to say this in any sort of PC fashion) he works all things, situations, events to the benefit of those who love him.

 

[MarkEvan]

Hmmm, why do we do good deeds.........well I guess the first thing is to realise that only one born from above can do good deeds "a bad tree cannot bear good fruit and a good tree cannot bear bad fruit," which brings me to why we do good deads, because it`s the nature of a believer to do good deeds, if we are walking according to the Spirit then we will naturally do good works as this is the work of the Spirit through us.
There is an incentive for doing good works (because sometimes we loose heart and don`t want to carry on) Paul tells us this in 1 corinthians 3, our incentive is the reward we will recieve for our obediance.

mark

 

[Girly3302]

Hi, the other day I was wondering about the above question and settled on the answer that a lot of Christians do good things because it secures them a place in heaven.

Hang on a moment though, I thought, they're not good people if this is the case, assuming that a good person is someone that does good for goodness's own sake, but merely doing it because it's for their own good. This struck me as inherently selfish, so I've been trying to establish some kind of vindication pertaining to the majority of Christians - As of yet, these attempts have been unsuccessful. Help!

When you are transformed by The Spirit you naturally do good things, it is in your character.

 

[Piedpiper123]

I recently read New Testament cover to cover specifically to read what it says about what we will be judged on. I discovered that the overwhelming majority of verses on judgement indicate that we will be judged on what we have done rather than what we have believed!