Does it pay to be good?

Question: Does it pay to be good!?

If I act morally can I expect to be rewarded in the long run!? Is this a good reason to be moral!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

There's a fantastic question!

Let's look at this from the point of view of community good first!. Society is built on rules that each individual within the society more-or-less agree upon!. Its considered moral to adhere to these rules and without the adherence of the majority you cannot be said to have a society!. If the society is successful meaning that the individuals living in it are on the whole happier and healthier, then obviously it pays to be moral, not just for the individual, but for all society!. This works for small, isolated communities where the majority of information is transmitted vertically!. That is from parents to children!.
In the case of a larger society where mass media allows much more horizontal transmission of information the vertical transmission is swamped by horizontal (peer to peer) transmission!. In this environment self-interest thrives!. We end up with a collection of individuals not a society (like South-Central LA gangland)!. In this environment it does not pay for the individual to be moral!. Unfortunately our greatest technological achievements (TV, radio, Internet) are ultimately responsible for the breakdown of society!.
Today's society is the latter model where one cannot expect to be rewarded for good behaviour!.

If by "the long run" you mean after death, then that is another matter and requires the services of a theologian!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Depends what you find rewarding!. You probably won't be rewarded monetarily, but by acting morally i am sure you will receive rewards in a more personal manner!. I once found a wallet with near $1000 inside it!. I took it to the store's customer service and they returned it to the owner!. I never met the owner but the lady at customer service recognized me and told me how grateful the owner was, and now i get a very pleasant smile from that woman whenever i shop at that store!. I felt great knowing how grateful the owner was, and i get a extra big smile whenever i go into that store now!. Both very good reasons to act morally i my opinionWww@QuestionHome@Com

Depends upon the situation!. You may think you are doing the right thing, but you may not really be doing the right thing!. That is not a good reason to act moral simply for a reward!. Personally, THAT isn't acting morally at all!. To have a world safe to live in, people must do things and forget about an award no matter how back breaking the work is!. Cleaning your house for example, you don't always get a reward for doing that!. Personally,it's a bad, selfish way to live, and it does no one any good!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

sometimes it can get tough trying to always do the right thing and have morals!. the best advice i can give you is not to beat yourself up if you make a mistake or do something that would have an effect on your integrity!. just push forward, learn from it, and try to continue to be a good person!. what goes around comes around so if you do good things sooner or later good things will come to you!. everything is eventual, it is how the world keeps its balance so it wont be bias or one sided!. it is hard work keeping yourself pure and fighting the good fight but in the end it will pay off!. just believe that there is something in store for you after this life!. as for me i want to go to heaven and not hell so that is why i am set on living an upright life!. im not perfect by a long shot but when i fall down i get right back up!. just keep living and enjoy what life has to offer you, do things that make you happy!. always remeber the golden rule: do onto others as you would have them do onto you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Acting morally correct will not get you anywhere unless you know Jesus!. Heaven is the only "reward" worth getting and you will not get there without Jesus!. You can do everything right, but unless you have accepted Him as your savior, you can expect nothing!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

What rewards are you seeking!? Being a decent, morally upright person will cause most people to respond to you in kind!. You'll probably make friends easier and be well liked!. However, I've never seen any indication that being decent and morally upright leads to rewards as far as financial and quality of life!. Goodness has nothing to do with living well!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yeah!. If you do a lot of bad things, your conscience will be bugging you, and there are also spiritual consequences (at least I believe so) and consequences regarding physical punishment (getting arrested, being deserted by others, etc!.)!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

yes, knowing you have nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to worry about!. you're never scared about what might happen to you for what immoral thing you did!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

By being moral and making good choices in general, you are going to find peace in this life!. More importantly you will have eternal life in the world to come!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

i dont belive in rewards!. i just try to be a good person because i like peace and i find when im bad i have less peace!. could you answer my !? pls!.http://answers!.yahoo!.com/question/index;!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

No, not really!. Although "good" people who obey laws may avoid prisons and other negative walks of life, only because of consequences though!. What goes around does not necessarily come around!. Life is not fair!. Nice guys finish last!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Depends on your definition of good!.!.!.

I drive my car way over the speed limit because i enjoy the thrill of it!.!. Is it necessarily good!? Probably not, but hey!.!.!. I love it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I personally believe so!. I don't see why it wouldn't be a good reason to be moral!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Of course, doing good deeds make you feel good about yourself and that makes you happier and that will make others happier!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes! there is everything to gain!. It is Unquantifiable!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It all depends on what you believe, if you believe being moral will reward you later on, it will at some point!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If you are truly good your motivation will not be for a reward!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

no it make you and other people feel goodWww@QuestionHome@Com

it does!Www@QuestionHome@Com

im always "good"
&& i've gotten nothing out of itWww@QuestionHome@Com