Every good deed?

In the opening chapter of Orwell's " Burmese Days" we are introduced to U Po Kyin, a local official who has  gained his position, power and wealth often by unscrupulous means. Being a Buddhist he believes in reincarnation. What he returns as will depend on the life he has lead. Is he worried about this in view of all the bad things he has done? The answer is no. He will use the wealth accrued to pay for the building of lots of pagodas just before he dies. These good deeds will outweigh all the bad deeds previously committed and he should be assured of not being reincarnated as a slug.

This got me thinking about the reasons we do good deeds. At the moment there are many helping as volunteers in all sorts of ways and this is helping many people in all sorts of ways. I would be surprised if such people thought that they were building up some kind of positive balance sheet for the hereafter, so why are they doing it? 

Just recently Dr Francis Collins was awarded the Templeton prize as reported in this article:

 https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/christian-geneticist-francis-collins-awarded-prestigious-templeton-prize

After reading the above article I bought his book and I am now reading this too. Early in the book Dr Collins talks about the Moral Law as explained by CS Lewis.  This tells us that humans, no matter where they are, somehow know the difference between right and wrong. Even if we do not always adhere to this through selfish choices; even if there are differences about how this is responded to; there is still an appeal to a higher standard.

So perhaps when we are doing good  things, sometimes for complete strangers,  this is our response to the moral law.  Has God put in place this law along with all the other laws that hold the universe together? Is there something within us that makes us respond in certain ways? Is this is a reflection of our maker?

Without doubt there are still people who act in ways that are purely selfish. This is perhaps one of the consequences of free will as we are free to choose good or evil. There are also those who do good for what they can get out of it in the form of status or some type of feeling that they are a good person. This may not always be a bad thing if others are helped, but I do wonder whether is should be the motivating factor.

Perhaps when humans do good in a truly altruistic way it is then that we can truly catch a glimpse of the face of God.

Gracious God

You sent your son Jesus
to be our saviour and in him

we have a model in how to
do good.

We thank you for all those
who are volunteering at this
time to help others. May your
hand of protection be over them
and those they are helping in these
challenging times.

Help us to know when and
how to help others;
Place in our hearts the desire
to do all the good we can
in ways that bring glory not to
us but to you.

Amen