When you ask “why be moral?” your answer needs to be more than, “Because it’s the right thing to do.” That is circular. What makes something the right thing? What goal does a man achieve by doing right?
Some answer that, “Virtue is it’s own reward.” Others answer that “Morality benefits others, and that is what really matters.”
But what motivation does Scripture offer? Your life. Your reward.
In today’s blog let’s look at ten passages of reward from the book of Matthew. Let these Scripture passages help us understand why we ought to “do the right thing.”
1. For your great reward in heaven.
Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you (Matt 5:12).
2. For your own profit.
And if thy right hand cause thee to fall, cut it off and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell (Matt 5:30).
3. For a reward from your Father.
Take heed that ye do not your almsgiving before men, to be seen by them; otherwise ye have no reward from your Father who is in Heaven (Matt 6:1).
4. To lay up treasures for yourself in Heaven.
But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal (Matt 6:20).
5. To find your life.
He that findeth his life, shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for My sake, shall find it (Matt 10:39).
6. To not lose your reward.
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward (Matt 10:42).
7. To be perfect (and have treasure in heaven).
Jesus said unto him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven; and come and follow Me” (Matt 19:21).
8. To gain honor, materials, lands, family, and everlasting life.
And Jesus said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, that ye that have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit on the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold and shall inherit everlasting life (Matt 19:28-29).
9. To be exalted.
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted (Matt 23:12).
10. To become a ruler and share in the Lord’s joy.
His lord said unto him, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord (Matt 25:21).