Doing Good to Others for Your Profit

I recently read a booklet by John Piper entitled, "The Dangerous Duty of Delight", in which he challenges us to pursue our delight in God. Excellent and easy read! One of the chapters really caused me to think on some of the verses that I've read recently and what should be our motives when doing good to others. He shares a quote from a popular writer who says: "For the Christian, happiness is never a goal to be pursued. It is always the unexpected surprise of a life of service." Do you agree? Is this truth, according to the Bible? I say no. There are some key issues I would disagree with in this quote. First of all, to say that we shouldn't seek happiness or contentment or joy or pleasure in God (I don't differentiate those) may imply to unbelievers that it may not be available in God. To say that it will be a surprise if happiness is found is to say that it may or may not be found in God and living for Him, and this takes much glory away from God. Secondly, he speaks of a life of service, which it is, but it is a life of joyful service, not obligatory, fearful service.

Getting back to the point of this discussion, what should be the motive in doing good to others? Many Christians say that, in doing good to others, we should never seek any good out of that act for ourselves because that is selfish. In other words, you should not seek any personal profit from doing good to others. Galatians seems to clearly disagree with this teaching.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Gal. 6:9-10)

Why should we not give up on doing good to others? Because it is the right service to do for God? NO! Because in due season we will reap and profit. How? I'm not completely sure but God promises happy profit for us, so why should that not be a viable motive for love and good works.

Here are some more verses where I've seen this same pattern that shows it is ok, in fact, crucial to believe in the happiness and profit attained for us when we do good to others. This first verse actually shows how there is destruction for us when we don't do good to others.

"But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not CONSUMED by one another." Gal. 5:15

"...REMEMBER the words of the Lord Jesus, how He himself said, 'It is more BLESSED(HAPPY) to give than to receive'" Acts 20:35

"In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife LOVES HIMSELF. (because his love for her will affect him. I know, I've experienced this.)"
Eph. 5:28

"If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, BUT have not love, I GAIN nothing." I Cor. 11:3

JT