Enticing Promises: The Hidden Trigger of Action

In the modern world, it often seems that inner conviction is the main impetus for action. However, sometimes a striking promise is what ignites the spark of activity. When a reward is offered solely in exchange for certain behavior, people may begin to act driven not by deep inner motivation but by the external allure of attractive words. By analyzing examples from ancient texts, one can see how conditions for obtaining benefits often transformed into enticing signals: a promise addressed to specific listeners can simultaneously repel those who are unsuitable while inviting those ready for change. Moreover, when a blessing is conditionally tied to the renunciation of wrongful actions, it reminds us that the true value of the reward is defined not so much by the strength of the promise, but by the actual change in behavior. This phenomenon underscores that sometimes, to spark the desire to change, it is enough to hear confident and inspiring words—even if they initially lack deep inner motivation. Ultimately, the effect of promises remains a powerful tool which, when correctly applied, can not only attract attention but also serve as the first step on the path toward self-improvement and change.

One example is a situation in which the promise of a reward is used as an attractive stimulus, prompting people to act not because of inner conviction but merely for the appealing sound of the promise. For instance, one text states:

"I promise a reward only to the worthy. That is why even then, while conversing with His disciples, He did not give the promise unconditionally; He did not simply say, 'you', but also added, 'those who follow Me', so as to both reject Judas and attract those who would later come to Him—these words of His were not meant solely for the disciples, nor just for Judas, who later proved unworthy of His promise."
(source: link )

Here, the auditory promise clearly functions as bait—it is sufficiently striking to motivate people to join without any genuine inner desire or conviction.

Another example is when a promise or proclaimed benefit is used as a condition capable of attracting people provided they renounce their wrongful deeds. In this case, the promise of bestowing benefits takes effect only if the people respond to the call for correction:

"But if this people, upon whom I have proclaimed this, turns away from its evil deeds, I will postpone the harm I had intended to inflict upon them. And sometimes I will declare about some people and kingdom that I will establish and confirm it; but if they continue doing wrong before My eyes and do not heed My voice, I will cancel the good that I had planned to bestow upon them."
(Jeremiah 18:7-10, source: link )

Here, the promise itself, sounding attractive and impressive, serves as a condition for the actions taken, even though the true value of the benefits depends on corrected behavior.

Thus, both examples illustrate situations in which actions are undertaken not so much out of deep inner conviction but because the striking promise or attractive words—capable of instilling hope or the expectation of reward—motivate participation and action.

Supporting citation(s):
"I promise a reward only to the worthy. That is why even then, while conversing with His disciples, He did not give the promise unconditionally; He did not simply say, 'you', but also added, 'those who follow Me', so as to both reject Judas and attract those who would later come to Him—these words of His were not meant solely for the disciples, nor just for Judas, who later proved unworthy of His promise." (source: link )
"But if this people, upon whom I have proclaimed this, turns away from its evil deeds, I will postpone the harm I had intended to inflict upon them. And sometimes I will declare about some people and kingdom that I will establish and confirm it; but if they continue doing wrong before My eyes and do not heed My voice, I will cancel the good that I had planned to bestow upon them." (Jeremiah 18:7-10, source: link )