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B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) was an American psychologist, probably known best for his research on operant conditioning. He created the "Skinner Box", to understand and document the relation of positive and negative reinforcement on behavior...
Positive reinforcement is where a particular behavior is strengthened by the consequence of experiencing a positive condition. Negative reinforcement is where a particular behavior is strengthened by the consequence of stopping or avoiding a negative condition.
Skinner said, "It has long been known that behavior is affected by its consequences. We reward and punish people, for example, so that they will behave in different ways..." (http://www.bfskinner.org/brief_survey.html)
(You didn't know you were in for a science lesson today, did you?)
Galatians 6:7-10 (CEV) says this:
You cannot fool God, so don't make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life. Don't get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don't give up. We should help people whenever we can, especially if they are followers of the Lord.
What God is saying is, don't be fooled by the principles of operant conditioning. Just because a person cheats on his taxes, gets away with it, and takes a vacation to the Bahamas with his "winnings", doesn't mean that cheaters win. Don't be fooled! When a godly down-home farmer works hard all his life to raise a family and be good to his community, and dies a no-name without a dime in the bank, it doesn't mean that godly living is a waste of time. Don't be fooled!
It's true that we become conditioned by positive (and negative) reinforcement. But God says that in the spiritual world, rewards may be deferred, sometime a lifetime. He says, "Please don't give up in doing good. Just because you don't see the effect, I do. I'm fashioning a Christ-like character in you, and I'm affecting others by your obedience...please don't give up in doing good. One day it will all be revealed."
We need to do good, because that is God's way--bottom line. Not because we'll get a cookie treat, but because God asks us to, and it's in keeping with the Holy Spirit's prompting in those who have placed faith in Jesus.
Then again, who says we don't get cookie treats when we obey, or a shock on our feet when we disobey, huh? I know this: the Holy Spirit has a way of providing peace in my heart when I'm in line with God's will, and an uncomfortable lack of peace when I'm off the mark. It's not a visible reinforcement, but definitely tangible to my spirit. How 'bout you? Are you sensitive to the Holy Spirit's reinforcement?
Mother Teresa is an example of someone who didn't look for cookie treats in doing good. From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresa . . .
She wrote in her diary that her first year as a missionary was fraught with difficulties. She had no income and had to resort to begging for food and supplies. Teresa experienced doubt, loneliness and the temptation to return to the comfort of convent life during these early months. She wrote in her diary:
"Our Lord wants me to be a free nun covered with the poverty of the cross. Today I learned a good lesson. The poverty of the poor must be so hard for them. While looking for a home I walked and walked till my arms and legs ached. I thought how much they must ache in body and soul, looking for a home, food and health. Then the comfort of Loreto [her former order] came to tempt me. 'You have only to say the word and all that will be yours again,' the Tempter kept on saying ... Of free choice, my God, and out of love for you, I desire to remain and do whatever be your Holy will in my regard. I did not let a single tear come."
God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good. Let's be like our Father, and keep doing good, for His sake -- cookie treats, or no cookie treats.
Love,
Joelene
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