EXOD437 Another reason to be good is to achieve another kind of reward. In general the Torah never states a specific reward for a specific Jewish act or Mitzvah. The exception to that rule is found in only three places, which promise long life as a reward for doing these actions (either long life in this world, the next world, or both). [This verse, Deuteronomy 22:6-7, 25:15; Maimonides, Guide for the Perplexed 3:48]. What are the three actions and what do they have in common? The first is honoring one's parents. The second is sending away the mother bird before taking her eggs, which Maimonides explains, trains a person to have mercy on all animals and human beings as well. The third is being honest in business. All three require acts of goodness between men that involve justice, kindness, and doing the right thing. Therefore, to attain long life, a person should be a good person who does good acts on a daily basis. The idea of long life (be it in this world or the Next World) is not only about years. Everyone naturally wants immortality, to continue to live beyond life, even though everyone dies. But by doing good acts, people can attain immortality. How? Rashi explains that the Torah mentions the death of the evil Terach, Abraham's father, long before he actually died in order to teach us that an evil person who contributes nothing to this world is considered dead even when he is physically still alive. But Rashi continues and explains that the opposite is also true. If we are good parents, our ideas, ideals, and values live on after us through our children. Rashi commentary on Genesis 11:32 .... [I]mmortality can indeed be achieved by doing righteous acts that affect people. The impact of these acts continues long after the person dies physically, which helps immortalize a person and continues his or her influence forever. Chofetz Chaim enhances this concept when he says that one strong act of kindness can impact not only one person, but can continue to have impact from generation to generation until the end of time. Shemirat HaLashon 1:7 Therefore, by being good, a person has the potential to affect thousands or even tens of thousands of individuals for the better and change the world positively forever.