Doing Good
“Let’s not grow tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up. So then, let’s work for the good of all whenever we have an opportunity, and especially for those in the household of faith.” Galatians 6:13 (CEB)
“Be a good boy, Soren.” That’s what I get for naming him that. Soren is a Danish name. Of course, Soren Kierkegaard is the first name that comes to mind, but did you know that Soren is a Danish name for the god Thor? Thor, the storm god. Perfect. It also means serious and stubborn. Basically, we created a thundering, seriously stubborn boy! So, yeah, I need to remind him to be a good boy.
However, he also reminds me that I am not a good boy. When I inevitably get on to him, he responds with “you are not being a good boy. You are a bad boy!” I cannot disagree. It’s hard to always “do good”. What does that even mean? We get frustrated with the day to day. I saw it this morning when a person did not turn right fast enough for a Fedex driver on Hwy. 190 this morning. He was screaming and beating his wheel as I, in the Just Love Truck mind you, was grinning from ear to ear at his tirade. Yet, I have been that person before! Is this doing bad rather than doing good? Maybe. Or maybe we miss the point of the passage.
The context actually suggests that if someone were caught in the wrong; that is being arrogant, jealous, angry, etc…(Galatians 5:16-25), they are not to be exiled from the fold. It is the opposite, we are working to restore them with “the spirit of gentleness”. It goes on to say we do not do this alone. We “carry each other’s burdens” so that we will “fulfill the law of Christ”. As Don says, “Jesus wants us to be all we can be.” This is true.
Finally, notice the end when it says, “let’s work for the good of all whenever we have an opportunity” there is no other option. To work for the good of all, literally means all. No exceptions! We love our neighbors because that is what Christ taught us to do and in doing so, we do the good.
My friends, keep doing good. Love one another, be gentle and kind, share a word of encouragement, give of yourself, care for someone who is hard for you to be around, and most of all love your neighbor as yourself. Amen.
Zac