The Cost of Goodness: Why Doing the Right Thing Often Hurts

A Homily by Fr. Matthew Brown St. Mary Magdalen Orthodox Church - New York City

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

There are two lessons we can pull from today’s set of Scripture readings. One of them appears in both the epistle and the Gospel. We hear about being persecuted, about being ready to give an account. And in the epistle, Paul urges us to be strong and reminds us that there is a cost to all of this—this life of faith.

It’s an important reminder. Sometimes we think, “If I live my spiritual life well, if I do what’s right, then my life will get easier.” And yes, that’s true—but it’s not the whole story. That mindset is often our motivation: something bad happens or we suffer some injustice, and we don’t just ask, “Why me?” but we think, “I’ve been a good person—why is this happening?”

There’s a strong biblical tradition behind the idea that living wisely leads to a more fulfilling life. Just look at Proverbs—the contrast between the fool and the wise man. Wisdom and virtue tend to lead to less suffering, more peace, more meaning.

But layered on top of that is the reality that when you are good, this world has a tendency to destroy good and beautiful things. So if you want to do good, you’re also stepping into a battle. You’re entering a contest.

That’s why the spiritual life is exciting and dangerous. It yields great rewards, but not without significant cost and sacrifice. This becomes a kind of litmus test: any spirituality that doesn’t ask anything of you can’t give you anything, either.

If we’re sacrificing for the right things, our reward will be in proportion to those sacrifices. You get out what you put in.

And here’s the deeper truth: the reward is the virtuous life itself.

We often separate the good thing we do from the reward we expect—“If I do this good thing, then I’ll get something else.” Or we believe sin brings some separate punishment—“If I sin, I’ll go to hell, or God will destroy my city.”

But in truth, sin is already its own punishment. Vice is hell. And virtue is already its own reward. Goodness and holiness are paradise.

Because these things transform who we are. Practicing virtue is like a sculptor shaping character from stone. The reward is a transformed human being who is fully alive. That’s what God wants: for us to be fully human, fully alive, filled with grace.

This is the adventure of the spiritual life—that we get to participate in our own salvation and transformation. We are co-laborers with God. He placed us in the garden to till and keep it, and that garden is our own soul, our relationships, our community.

We are called to build up the world, not just spiritually receive from it. We are invited to complete what God began at creation. That’s a beautiful calling—but it also comes at a cost. And that cost often appears when you try to do good. Because when you do the right thing, sometimes you suffer for it.

So it’s essential to count the cost ahead of time. Know that on this journey, sometimes virtue leads to blessings, peace, and the life you long for. And other times, it brings hardship and resistance.

That’s why Paul urges us at the start of his letter: be strong.

This is also why encouragement is so vital among Christians. The work we’re doing is hard. It requires bravery. That’s why we need to strengthen and uplift one another with our words.

To encourage someone, you must be present. You must notice others. You can’t be so wrapped up in your own struggles that you miss what someone else is going through. Being encouraging means recognizing when someone needs a kind word, a moment of support, or a bit of praise. A good word, spoken at the right time, can truly save someone.

So don’t underestimate your role. Be a source of encouragement and inspiration. Be someone others can lean on.

Paul says something similar to Timothy in his letter—“Entrust this word to faithful men.” Just as Paul mentored and discipled Timothy, Timothy was to do the same for others. We are all called to be mentors and examples, no matter our place in life.

Even if you feel like you’re the least significant person in the room, know that someone is watching you. Children, strangers, and even fellow believers look to you. You have an impact, whether you know it or not.

This is the heart of Paul’s message: you need your brother, and your brother needs you.

We are not meant to just receive spiritual goods. We are called to grow, to mature, and to become givers—those who teach, encourage, serve, visit the sick, and help the needy. That’s how you build a flourishing community.

The spiritual path is hard. And one of the most powerful things we can do to support each other is to speak words of encouragement—especially to those who are struggling to do the right thing and are paying a price for it.

Sometimes, a word of encouragement is the difference between spiritual life and death for someone else.

Glory to Jesus Christ.

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