No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Have you heard people say that?  It’s another one of those statements that people often throw out there as if it’s a universally-accepted fact (“as everybody knows…”).  It’s also another example of how often those idioms people lightly offer up are negative and convey a sense of futility that isn’t accurate or helpful.

Supposedly, when people say “no good deed goes unpunished,” they’re saying that very, very often it doesn’t pay to try to be considerate, helpful to others, because efforts like that tend to bring a backlash of harm to the person who was just trying to be nice.  For example, someone might perform some “good Samaritan-like” deed to help someone injured or ill out in a public place, and as a result that good Samaritan might get sued and saddled with some part of the beneficiary’s medical bill, etc.

So, if we heed this “word of wisdom” what might result?  For one thing we can all sit and cry about the injustice of it all and what a terrible life is ours that things often work out that way such that no good deed goes unpunished.  For another thing we can stop doing good deeds so as to avoid the inevitable punishment good deeds bring on a person.  Again, I really must wonder, why would anyone ever utter this way-less-than-helpful statement?

It truly is not in the Bible!  The Bible says not to think that good deeds will equate to salvation, but the Bible encourages us to do good deeds, to be a blessing to others, to this world.  “For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life” (Ephesians 2:10).  “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Maybe sometimes it is risky to do the right thing or perform the good deed.  Maybe sometimes there are negative repercussions we couldn’t have envisioned beforehand.  But I would contend those instances are the great, great minority of instances, and that the truth is, the great majority of the time, it’s worth it.  When in doubt, just bless ‘em, just do the golden rule.  Think this world is a lousy place?  Imagine what it would be like if nobody took a chance and did good!

Good Things Come To Those Who Wait

I grew up in a lower-middle class household in the BCC era (before credit cards).  As such I learned all about deferred gratification.  If a person or family just making ends meet could find a way to set aside a little savings each week or month then someday they would have enough saved to purchase that item they needed or wanted very much.  But the gratification that would come with the purchase would have to wait until all the money needed, the full purchase price, was saved up and was in hand.

That upbringing not only built into me a tolerance for deferred gratification, it also taught patience.  Even in the CC (credit card) era, or any time really, patience is a good trait to possess.  I don’t think I’ve heard people mention any other character trait they would rather have than more patience.  So, if the saying, “good things come to those who wait” is true, then those who can wait (can defer gratification or who have patience) are in luck!  They can simply bide their time and look forward to the day when good things are piling up on the doorstep at last!  If that saying is true, does that mean that those who aren’t able to defer gratification or don’t have patience are out of luck and are simply going to have bad things coming their way?

Truly, there are some very good and important things that come our way if we give them time to develop, grow, and mature.  Relationships are that way.  Some vocational pursuits might be that way.  Many financial investments would probably qualify too.  But “patient” and “passive” aren’t the same thing.  Good relationships come with time and nurture.  Good experiences in our careers multiply as we work diligently and consistently.  Financial investments that compound again and again come with research and analysis.  So perhaps we should say that good things come to those who wait and work, with patience, commitment, and intentionality.  Good things come to those who can chart a course and stay the course until they’ve fully run the course. 

In case you were wondering, that saying isn’t exactly in the Bible, but there is something similar in Lamentations 3:25, “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.”  Actually, I think what that might mean is that God is being good to you even now, even if it doesn’t look and feel like it, it’s just that sometimes we have to wait a while to see it.  That’s faith (in God), trusting that good things are in the works, just sometimes on layaway.