When Doing Good Doesn’t Pay Off: Let’s Talk About the Heaven’s Reward Fallacy

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I’m trying so hard to do the right thing, so why isn’t life working out?”

Maybe you’ve served faithfully, loved sacrificially, made the hard, right choices… and yet things still fell apart. Someone else gets the promotion, the breakthrough, the answer to prayer - and you’re left wondering, "What’s the point"?

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. You might be dealing with something called the Heaven’s Reward Fallacy, and it can quietly mess with your mental health, your emotions, your faith, and your view of God.

Let’s unpack this on a psychological, spiritual, and biblical level

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What Is the Heaven’s Reward Fallacy?

It’s basically the idea that “If I do good, I should be rewarded.” In psychology (especially Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), it’s seen as a cognitive distortion - a kind of flawed thinking where we believe the world (or God) owes us something for our effort or goodness.

And when that reward doesn’t show up? Cue the frustration. Disappointment. Bitterness. Even burnout.

You might recognise it in thoughts like:

• “After everything I’ve done for them, this is how they treat me?”

• “God, I’ve been faithful. Why am I still struggling?”

• “I did everything right. Why is life still so hard?”

  
  

At its core, this fallacy turns faithfulness into a transaction and when the payout doesn’t come, we crash.

Why This Fallacy Hurts Us

Psychologically, this mindset sets us up for heartache. Dr. Martin Seligman, a leader in positive psychology, talks about *learned helplessness: that feeling of giving up because nothing seems to work no matter how hard you try. It’s very common among people who feel unseen or unrewarded for their consistent effort.

When you believe “if I do good, good will come,” and it doesn’t? You can spiral. You start to feel like your effort is pointless. That maybe God’s not paying attention. That maybe doing good doesn’t matter after all.

We See It in Scripture, Too

This isn’t just an issue in our world today; Scripture is full of people wrestling with this very thing.

1. Job: The Guy Who Did Everything Right… and Still Suffered

Job was described as blameless and upright. He feared God. He avoided evil. And yet, he lost everything. His friends even told him, “You must have sinned to deserve this.” (Classic Heaven’s Reward Fallacy.)

But God set the record straight. Job hadn’t done anything wrong. His suffering wasn’t punishment, it was part of a bigger story.

2. The Older Brother in the Prodigal Son Story (Luke 15)

Remember him? He stayed home, obeyed all the rules, and worked hard. And when his rebellious younger brother came home to a party, he was very upset.

He basically said, “I’ve been good. Where’s my reward?”

Sound familiar?

3. Asaph in Psalm 73

Asaph was doing all the right things, but he looked around and saw wicked people thriving while he struggled. He says, “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure…” (v. 13). But then, something shifted: he went into God’s presence and remembered that there’s more to life than immediate payoff. (v 17)

Here’s the Spiritual Trap: Treating God Like a Vending Machine

Without even realising it, we can start seeing obedience as a way to get something from God:

• “If I pray enough, I’ll be blessed.”

• “If I tithe, my finances will flourish.”

• “If I’m a good Christian, life will go smoothly.”

  
  

But God isn’t a vending machine. He’s not looking for transactions, He’s after relationship. Doing the right thing is meant to be a response to His love, not a strategy to earn more of it.

So… What Do We Do Instead?

1. Remember That God’s Timing Isn’t Ours

Galatians 6:9 tells us:

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

That “proper time” might not be today, or even this year. But God doesn’t miss a single act of obedience. He sees you.

2. Redefine What “Reward” Means

Romans 8:28 says all things work together for good, but the very next verse defines that “good” as being conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

So yes, the reward might not be a promotion or a miracle. It might be deeper intimacy with Jesus. And honestly, that’s the better reward, even if it doesn’t feel like it in the moment.

3. Release the Entitlement and Rest in Relationship

God isn’t keeping score to hand out prizes. He’s inviting you into a journey with Him where love is the goal, not just results.

Hebrews 6:10 gives us such comfort:

“God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him…”

Final Thoughts: You’re Not Crazy for Feeling Tired

If you’re weary, discouraged, or tempted to give up, be honest with God about it. He can handle your disappointment. He’s not distant or unfair. He’s just not limited to our timelines or reward systems.

Let’s keep doing good, not to earn something, but because we belong to Someone.

Your faithfulness matters. Your unseen sacrifices are not wasted. And your reward? It may not look like you imagined…but it will be more beautiful, deeper, and more lasting than anything this world could ever offer.

Bless you today in the mighty name of Yeshua!

*Learned helplessness in adulthood can often be rooted in early childhood experiences where a child repeatedly feels powerless to change their circumstances, especially in situations involving chronic stress, neglect, or abuse. Over time, the child learns that no matter what they do, they cannot influence the outcome, which leads to passive behaviour, low motivation, and even depression later in life.

You can find a list of Cognitive Distortions here.