Doing Good To All

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Galatians 6:9-10

Doing good to others is a mark of spiritual rebirth in those who are born again by faith in Jesus.  Our salvation or forgiveness is not earned by doing good works, but doing good to all as we have opportunity is a result of God's work in us.  Weariness can occur whether we are sowing or reaping, and Paul reminded the believers in the Galatian church doing good is always in season.

Paul directed the church to do good especially to those of the "household of faith" in Jesus.  This was not to discriminate but to be discerning.  They were to do good especially to their brethren, not exclusively.  As the LORD extended the Gospel of grace to all, so believers were to do good to all.  I suspect Paul emphasised doing good to those of the household of faith because they were or most apt to be neglected.  As opportunities arose they were to do good beyond their local fellowship, for the body of Christ is global and spans all cultures, ethnicities and Christian denominations.

One natural tendency that should not be carried into our walk with Jesus is keeping tabs of the good we have done others.  Everything good we have given we have first received from God, and thus it is for  and through Jesus by faith we do good.  If our flesh ever begrudges someone and says something like, "After all I have done for them..." this exposes our failure to walk in God's grace--to freely give as we have freely received.  This shows our deeds have been out of a sense of dutiful obligation, to gain face, to impress others, to repay good done us, or in the hope of receiving future benefits.  All we have given, the time we have invested, the effort expended, the personal sacrifices we have made ought to be done to all as if Jesus Himself is the recipient, simply returning to Him thankfully what is rightfully His.

When we fix our eyes on Jesus, we do not become so entranced we are blinded to opportunities to do good to all.  The opposite is the case!  Considering Who Jesus is and all the good He has done us, He inspires us more to do good than the prevalence of needs we can see around us.  He opens our hearts to desire to do good we never could have imagined in practical ways to our family, friends, co-workers and even our enemies.  As God leads us on this pilgrimage of life, He places opportunities on our path to do good to all--especially to those who are of the household of faith.  As the LORD has been good to us, let us do good to others by freely and gladly offering to go the first mile.  God enables us to keep on going for additional miles and learn to pay the distance we have traveled no mind, for He is with us every step.