‘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 Apostle’s exhortation here is very comprehensive – to do good without limitation, whether it be in word or deed. Some can be more benefited by words than by any other service we could render them. One of the great needs of the world is more knowledge. And if any one can dispel the darkness of this ignorance and let in light, he will surely do great good. Saul of Tarsus, for instance, was doing an evil work when he was persecuting the Church. But he did not realize this. Hence, the best service to Saul of Tarsus, or any one else under like conditions, would be to open the eyes of his understanding.

SOME GOOD WORKS ENUMERATED

Clothing the needy, feeding the hungry, assisting the blind, the deaf, taking care of the imbecile, are all good works. As we look out into the world, we see many efforts being made to do good. We should be very much in sympathy with everything that aims for good – physical good, mental good, social good, good of any kind. Then there is a way of doing good along intellectual lines, the lines of instruction. It is a good thing to teach children practical and mechanical arts that will make them useful, as in the public schools.

SPECIAL WORK OF THE LORD’S PEOPLE

But there is a higher work than all these. And we are to give our life and time to this, which we see is the most valuable of all. This is the instruction given for all who have the ear to hear, respecting the Almighty, His will, His purposes, His plan; for these are associated with every affair of life. This instruction, to those who receive it, becomes the best aid to proper thinking, proper living, proper acting, for this is God’s way. And this way becomes the way of all who are consecrated to do His will, to walk in Jesus’ footsteps. As, therefore, we come more and more in harmony with God’s Plan, we perceive that no other work could be so grand as to make known to others God’s character, God’s Plan and God’s will concerning us. As this has brought great blessing and sanctification to us, we should have the desire to take the Good Tidings to others, refreshing them as we have been refreshed, comforting them as we have been comforted.

This is called in the Scriptures, preaching the Gospel, by whatever means. We labor under a difficulty because the world is not able to appreciate the Good Tidings, Satan having blinded their eyes, so that they cannot see the philosophy of God’s Plan. They are trying, as it were, to look around a corner, instead of coming to the corner and getting the right angle of vision. But whether people believe it or not, we believe preaching the Gospel to be the Lord’s work and therefore the best. This does not hinder us, however, from having sympathy with others who are doing what they consider to be the best work, so long as the result is good. We should be in sympathy with everything that is in harmony with the Truth – in sympathy with everything the influence of which is beneficial to mankind.

So then the Apostle is calling to our minds in a general way the opportunity of doing good to all men. We could not give up preaching the Gospel and go into charitable works. A godly physician might, however, in connection with his practice, do good not only along lines physical and mental, but also along spiritual lines. So we have opportunities every day with our various contacts, all of whom are fellow creatures; for God made all mankind of one blood. As the Apostle enjoins, we should seek to do them good, seek to make them better, happier, more comfortable.

KIND WORDS AND SMILES

As we meet people in the walks of life, day by day, how can we do them good? One of the easiest ways is to look happy ourselves and thus inspire happiness in others. A person who goes about looking miserable is not likely to make others feel happy. But if we cannot always look very happy, let us look as happy as we can, and thus we will be doing good to a great many people whom we meet throughout the day. We can give a kind word, a smile, a pleasant tone, a little civility, wherever proper.

All such little courtesies of life are means of doing good, and may bring a ray of sunshine into the lives of a great many people. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God does not yet shine into their hearts. If our look, our manner, our tone, would be helpful, comforting, assuring, to these, then we would be doing them good.

We have a special work and therefore have not the opportunity to walk the streets and smile all the time. Our life work is for the great King. Our work is to be especially for the household of faith, or those who will be amenable to the message, and will wish to serve the Lord when they learn the way. And, if we desire to do good to them, how much more would we wish to encourage those who belong to the Lord, who have become members of his spiritual family!

– Adapted from R5357

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