Invest in Your Soul

Why help the poor, the beggars, the disabled, the abused and the sick? Well, there are many real reasons to do your bit. Whether it is for Tax benefits, or for building Karma, doing good actually makes sound practical sense.
For the true Mumbaiite, I'd put it in familiar terms - make investments in your soul too! Every single major world religion speaks of the importance of good works over mere words and rituals:

Bahaii
It behoves each one of you to manifest the attributes of God, and to exemplify by your deeds and words the signs of His righteousness, His power and glory.

Buddhism
Deeds determine one's place in society. One becomes an outcast or a highly placed person by his deeds. Evil deeds are easy to do; good deeds are difficult; but the good deeds pay the highest rewards.

Christianity
a) "There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, full of sores and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. And in hell, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, `Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, `Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that they who would pass from here to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from there.'

b) One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: "Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?" Jesus replied, "What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?" The man answered, " `You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.' And, `Love your neighbor as yourself.' " "Right!" Jesus told him. "Do this and you will live!"
The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
Jesus replied with an illustration: "A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes and money, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. "By chance a Jewish priest came along; but when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
"Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two pieces of silver and told him to take care of the man. `If his bill runs higher than that,' he said, `I'll pay the difference the next time I am here.'
"Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?" Jesus asked.
The man replied, "The one who showed him mercy."
Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same."

c) What does it profit a man to say he has faith, if he has not the works to prove it? If a brother or sister is naked and does not have daily food, and you say to them, "Go in peace; be warmed and filled," without giving them those things which they need, what use is it? ....
You believe there is a God, you do well. (However) The devils also believe -- and tremble. But do you know, o vain main, that faith without (good) works is dead?

d) Man is known by his deeds, and is judged even so by God. God will reward good deeds and punish evil ones. To profess goodness is of no value; one must do good deeds or be condemned.

Confucianism
Reward will follow every good deed. Only by doing good deeds can a man know the true joy of living and have a long life.

Hinduism
Vedanta says that opportunity to serve the oppressed is for our own welfare and growth. In serving others, we serve ourselves.
'One who accepts help from you is greater than you: the receiver is greater than the giver, for he has given you the chance you to give!'
-Swami Vivekananda

Karma: Paths to salvation are through three different means. Through the study of scriptures for the learned is called jnana yoga. A practitioner of Hinduism has other choices such as intense devotion to a personal God that he can utilize to attain salvation. This is referred to as bhakti yoga. The third method is through selfless service to humanity called the karma yoga, so well discussed in the Bhagavad-Gita. If an essence of God or Brahman is in every soul, then the service of humanity is the same as service of the Divine. Service without regard for the fruits of action is specially extolled.
Good deeds and bad deeds are counted, like a balance sheet. This law of retributive justice is called karma. Karma literally means deed or work. The cumulative effects of the deeds in this life has profound effects in the afterlife. Through karma the body of next life is acquired; and on previous karma depended a man’s character, fortune, and social class and his happiness or sorrow. The body cannot escape the law of karma. However, by judgment and forethought one can utilize karma to his advantage. Human being has a free will that permits him to make intelligent choices, which in turn may alter the manifestation of karma. The ultimate goal of every Hindu is to reduce the bad karma that he may have to carry with him into his next cycle of birth. When enough good karma is accumulated over a number of lifetimes, the soul is liberated and attainment of salvation is at hand. Every human being has the potential to eventually attain salvation by his or her deeds and this fundamental right cannot be denied to anyone.
One becomes what one does. The doer of good deeds will become good and the doer of evil deeds will become evil. Action, the doing of the good, is superior to renunciation. Thus, at all times one should be doing good.

Islam
On the Day of Judgement every soul shall be judged in accordance with his deeds. To do good drives out evil.

Jainism
The good show the way to others by their good acts. Each day passes never to return. Therefore, do good at all times, for you can never call back a day to perform a good deed that was not done.

Judaism
Do good at all times, for man will be judged by his works.

Sikhism
Man's deeds are recorded by the divine. He becomes good in the eyes of the divine by doing good deeds. God is the source of good deeds.

Zorastrianism
The three great Commandments:
Zarathushtra gave three commandments to his followers to enable them lead perfect lives and work for their own evolution. These are humata (good thought), hukhta (good word), and havarshta (good deeds). Good thoughts are very important in the spiritual journey of man, because all else comes out of out of thoughts only. Without good thoughts, there cannot be progress on the spiritual path. Without good thoughts one cannot subject oneself to Divine will and become qualified to receive boons from Vohu Mano. Thinking good alone is not sufficient. But one must have the courage to speak Truth all the time. One must be truthful to oneself and to others. There is no place for hypocrisy or duplicity in the life a of a true Zoroastrian. Performance of good deeds is equally important. The supreme Power of God, in the aspect of Kshatra Vairya comes to Him who engages himself in good actions. Good actions include Sraosha or service.
The yazata Srosha, which was referred by Zarathushtra as the means to attain the path of salvation. Srosha is service (sushrusha of Sanskrit), obedience and devotion to God. When we cultivate this virtue we will be able to see the path of salvation clearly in front of us.
We come to the Wise One through good deeds. It is important that we keep ourselves physically fit to do good deeds at all times.