Seems to me you know about one subset of
: In the case of Abraham and his son Isaac,
: Our Father already knew the outcome, there
: being no risk to the life of Isaac.
: Nevertheless, Abraham's faith was tested to
: the extreme limit.


Abraham didn't know the twist in the tale when he performed his (according to James) exemplary 'good deed'. Good deeds are characterised only by loving obedience, not by perceived effectiveness or by any metre of social justice, even when involving self-sacrifice.

Therese of Lisieux:

We must do everything that is within us: give without counting the cost, practice the virtues at every opportunity, conquer ourselves all the time and prove our love by every sort of tenderness and loving attention. In a word, we must carry out all the good works that lie within our powers — out of love for God. But it is truly essential to put our whole trust in Him who alone can sanctify our work, who can indeed sanctify us without works, since He may even bring forth children of Abraham from the very stones. It is necessary for us, when we have done all we can, to confess that we are unprofitable servants, whilst hoping that God in His grace will give us all that we need. That is the way of childhood.


Merit does not arise from performing great deeds or giving much, but in receiving and loving.