Doing Good

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:10

The Bible, in speaking of Jesus, tells us that He “went about doing good”.  As Christians, doing good is our “job”.  Of course, we speak of doing not in the context of salvation, for salvation is entirely by the grace of God. We cannot hope to work for or earn our salvation, but we are called to “work out your own salvation” in Philippians.  Notice that it says “work out” not “work for”.  We do not do good works in an effort to become Christians, but rather we do good works because we have become Christians.

This verse tells us to do good to all men, as we have opportunity.  I don’t know about you, but I have plenty of opportunities to do good.  I have far more opportunities to do good than I take advantage of.  There are opportunities to good to people all around us every single day.  The verse tells us to do good to all men.  We are not to pick and choose who will be the recipients of our goodness and kindness.  We are supposed to be doing good to “all men”.  We often find it easy to be good to those who return our goodness.  It is easy be nice to a nice person.  But how often do we really work at being good to those who maybe aren’t as easy to be good to?  That is where the Christ-centered life differs from the average life.  We are to do good to “all men”.

We are “especially” supposed to do good to those who are “of the household of faith”.  As we are given the opportunity, we are to help and encourage our Christian brothers and sisters.  Again, sometimes we find it easy to highlight our differences and pick each other apart.  Sometimes those of the “household of faith” don’t act like they should.  But that should not stop us from “doing good to them”.

Let us follow the example of Christ and “go about doing good”!