Does the Performance of Good Acts Always Bring About Good Consequences?

The Bible routinely commands God's people to practice what is good in the eyes of Jehovah, but to disdain or turn away from what is bad (Psalm 34:14; 97:10; Proverbs 4:27). While there are many blessing that result from doing the right/good thing, should God's people always expect good consequences from godly actions?

Even a cursory reading of the Bible probably will lead most readers (maybe all) to answer negatively. No, doing the right thing doesn't always bring about good consequences, contra utilitarianism (a moral theory that emphasizes actions bringing about good consequences/benefits). A Christian knows he/she is doing the right thing when it conforms to the will of Jehovah God (Matthew 7:21-23; 1 John 2:15-17). While good acts generally do bring about good results, it is not true that immediate benefits always result from doing God's bidding. That is far from the truth.

The Bible teaches us that we live in a fallen world, a world in which sickness, suffering and death obtain (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 5:12; 6:23; James 4:1-2). So no matter how faithful we are, there will always be illness, suffering, and death in this world (1 Timothy 5:23; 2 Timothy 4:20). Secondly, those who desire to serve Jehovah in association with Christ Jesus will (not might) be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). Jesus told his disciples that they would be objects of hatred by the nations on account of his name: suffering is inevitable for Christians (Matthew 24:9; 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4). The more obedient we are, the angrier Satan gets, and the more he will war against us--even throwing some of us into prison (Revelation 2:10; 12:12, 17).

Having said all of the foregoing, I do want to end on a positive note. While good actions don't guarantee good consequences in our life, it is true that if we obey the dictates of God, we will be blessed in the long term. Furthermore, our lives will be richer now, we'll be happier, and we can avoid numerous problems by doing Jehovah's will (1 Timothy 4:8). Jehovah promises that he is the one teaching us how to benefit ourselves (Isaiah 48:17, 18). As the psalmist also wrote: happy is the people whose God is Jehovah (Psalm 144:15). Yes, he is satisfying the [proper] desire of every living thing (Psalm 145:16).