A. Then. To do with the very apt example you use in your question...  We both help people: donate clothes, food, money, etc. to the less fortunate. You don’t involve God in your altruism, I do. You do it because you're a good guy, or a moral guy, or a nice guy. I do the same work - same amount even because it pleases God, because God wants me to help them. Are we both going to go to heaven all other factors remaining constant?

Well if this slice of our lives was all that was being considered for judgement, then my guess would be we'd both probably end up in heaven, because we both did good, with good intentions and in a good way. This, by the way, is how even atheists and agnostics and all those millions of people who have never heard of Christ can and will be rewarded with heaven: because they did good, with good intentions and in a good way.  That's the simplistic answer.

Why simplistic? Because your question is like trying to answer who is more loving: a husband who does good to his children because he is a nice guy, a good guy, or a husband who does good to his children because his wife asked and expects it of him?  Clearly there's something good in the both of them - that's the easy part.  The very hard question is who has more good or more merit.

What is also apparent is that we instinctively give more merit to those who do what is right and good, in spite of pressure to the contrary whether from within (feelings, desires, emotions, etc.) or from without (peer pressure, social customs, family expectations, etc.).  We appreciate more someone who loves even when they don't feel like loving; someone who serves even when they are irritated; someone who smiles even when they have problems of their own; someone who is punctual even when they are tired; someone who is sincere even when it would be easier to lie, someone who is loyal even when loyalty is out of fashion, someone who is continent even when it is considered "normal" to have sex whenever, wherever and with whomever. Doing good, with the right intention and in the right way when the internal or external odds are against us, we naturally praise more than doing good when for example your emotions are already carrying you in that direction.  You overcame more hurdles to achieve the same.  We find that kind of virtue more heroic.

One last point that occurs to me is that spoken by that famous Carpenter 2000 years ago.  He asked the same question you're asking now and fortunately for us, answered it Himself.

"See that you have your belts done up and your lamps lit.  Be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks.  Blessed those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. In truth I tell you, he will do up his belt, sit them down at table and wait on them.  It may be in the second watch that he comes, or in the third, but blessed are those servants if he finds them ready.  ...You too must stand ready, because the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

And then He posed the same question you're asking now: Who then is the faithful and wise steward (who you're calling a 'good guy'), whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time (or to borrow your words, 'who will make it to heaven')?

And His answer?  Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. (And what for me is the key in this whole quotation:) Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more. (Lk 12:35-48)"

So I would conclude that the important question is not really who is more loving or who has more good in them or who is better or who is more deserving of heaven, but what am I doing with what I have?

Happy Sunday!

15thApril 2018