The notion that good deeds deserve reward and evil faces punishment is ingrained throughout humanity, woven into every aspect of society–from our legal systems to even our fairy tales. After all, if the miller’s daughter had been truthful to the King, she would never have found herself trapped under the burden of her promise to Rumpelstiltskin. Wrongdoing should be punished, and good must be rewarded to encourage similar behavior. The upholding of this principle is essential to a collective society, as often these moral values will be the direct consequence of cooperation between many people. It is when human beings interact with each other, that honesty, integrity, righteousness, and goodwill become most apparent. Imagine a world where generosity went unnoticed and cruelty faced no repercussions — chaos would reign.

Beyond consequences, the notion of rewarding good deeds and punishing evil ones upholds the value of justice. When good actions earn recognition and appreciation, it affirms a sense of fairness and balance. Furthermore, this reward encourages people to embrace “good” traits, such as kindness, honesty, and compassion. Conversely, holding individuals accountable for any misdeeds restores that equilibrium as well as prevents an unchecked descent into moral anarchy. It is justice that becomes the scale on which we can weigh our actions, not only ensuring that no acts go unnoticed but also acting as a guiding light for individual choices.

Unfortunately, life is not always so ideal. Good deeds can go unrewarded, the righteous can suffer, and evil can go unnoticed or unpunished. How can we expect people to act ethically if our inconsistent system often fails?

Luckily, human life extends beyond external reward and punishment. The beautiful nature of self-awareness allows introspective thoughts that motivates intrinsic goodwill, independent of any outside reward. By upholding ethical principles, people fulfill a need for meaning and purpose in human life, and we seem to find reward in the satisfaction of acting with integrity or being charitable. Following an internal moral compass, we can strengthen our sense of self, which requires no outside reward nor recognition. Furthermore, ethical behavior contributes to a larger sense of community, inspiring others to act in a similar manner and build a society that idealizes harmony. 

The story of Job, the epitome of righteousness who endured unimaginable suffering, challenges our simplistic understanding of rewarding good and punishing evil. Why would God seemingly punish a good man? Perhaps the answer lies not in our simple understanding of justice, but rather in a deeper understanding of God’s purpose. Job’s suffering acts as a crucible that deepens his understanding of God’s grace and his own limitations. Furthermore, his story serves as a reminder that suffering, while often undeserved, is inevitable in human existence regardless of our moral standing. This idea might give solace to all people, as we can remain sure of our own moral goodness in times of suffering.