Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
~ Galatians 6:10 (NIV)
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The term "do-gooder" doesn't always have the best connotation, does it?... as if they're sucking up to someone to get into their good graces or shooting for some sort of payback. But God wants us to be "do-gooders" for all the right reasons.
Galatians 6 talks about what we sow in this life...
Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. ~ Galatians 6:7-9 (The Msg)
We have work to do on God's behalf, and God says that doing good for others is one of his tools. We may not even fully understand how God uses our kindness toward others, but it's really not our job to understand His working. We can trust that He is working, amen?
So, let's see -- we need to do good to all people, and especially those in the body of Christ. I think of two things about this...
1. Some believers in Jesus sequester themselves from the world so much, that they don't have any contact with those who don't know the Lord. They're very happy to love on their brothers and sisters in Christ at church, but they wouldn't think of knocking on their neighbor's door with an offer of help or even a "hello". It's been called "the holy huddle". Funny -- a football game isn't a game unless the team gets out of the huddle and runs some plays!
2. You've heard it said, "Familiarity breeds contempt." This is so often true in our homes, where the ones we should love the best, we treat the worst. So it is in the church, sometimes. We can spend all kinds of time doing good for the community, sharing the love of God to those who need to see His love in action. And yet, we can get catty and scratch our brothers and sisters in the Lord, like a house full of siblings who can't be in the same room with each other for more than a minute without bickering!
The Word says "do good to all". And what we sow, we'll reap. Pretty simple concept, but it takes diligence to maintain a healthy garden. It takes daily kneeling before God, allowing Him to mould our hearts and minds toward others. It takes a humble heart, desiring to give only what God wants to give others...love, forgiveness, joy, peace. And He says that doing good is good seed sown that will reap a harvest of blessing.
Are you a "do-gooder" for the right reasons? And do you do good to all, or just some? Let's strive to be a tool God can use in His harvest. Do good to all you meet today, and know in your heart that you are blessing God and advancing His kingdom!
Love,
Joelene
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