Article January 16, 1978 Issue

Is goodness rewarded?

JUNE RICE SCHEETZ

A nephew once said to me, "If you're going to be 'persecuted for righteousness' sake,'^{Matt. 5:10;} what's the point in being good?" I could see what he meant. Sometimes it seems that God-centered lives are more difficult than those of hardened sinners. But I could also see why persecution for goodness is preferable to suffering for sin.

To be free of the agony resulting from sin, one must feel honestly sorry for wrongdoing and forsake it. To find surcease from persecution, one can be grateful for the spiritual qualities he is expressing at the very moment they are being condemned by the worldly and let these qualities open consciousness to enjoy more of the ever-presence of the only unfailing love, God's love. This lifts one above belief in suffering.

One tends to have the husbanding, cherishing care of the heavenly Father well in mind when sincerely trying to obey His spiritual laws. When people mentally turn their backs on these laws, spiritual help appears shadowed and distant, and they are more apt to grope fearfully than call confidently.

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