Galatians 6:7-10
Verse 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
We mentioned in our time together yesterday how we need to speak through love to each other even with the hard issues and that when we are trying to correct others in a self-righteous way, we are not loving as Christ would love. Part of being loving is being kind and that includes doing good towards people. This is different than doing good for people which is much more common in our society.
While doing good things for other people is nice and well received most of the time, making people happy is not why we were put on the earth, although many of us may wish others were more inclined to please us. We like to be happy and like when people are driven with our happiness in mind but that is showing a love of self instead of love of others.
The concept of doing good to all people is more than being nice or trying to please them in any way possible, it is about doing what is good for them whether they want to believe it or not. Sometimes this means tough love, things like telling the child, “no” when they need to eat dinner instead of eating junk food. Or maybe it is telling the teenager they need to turn off their phone or tablet and go to bed because they have a test at school in the morning. The parent isn’t trying to be mean but is rather showing them love though giving them good advice and boundaries.
Doing good to others may include coming alongside and lovingly pointing out a sin, as we talked about yesterday, or it may be more helping them when we can see they need help but are too proud to ask for it. It may also mean being there for them when they don’t want to admit they need the company but are broken and need a friend.
An important thing to remember about doing good to others is that while it is kind to show this love to all people, it is especially important for us to live this kind of love to those in the body of Christ. Just as with our natural family, loving the Church family can be hard at times. There isn’t a single one of us who is easy to love all the time and when we aren’t being easy to love, it is hard to do good one to another.
Making It Personal
When has someone done good to you? Have you ever done good to another person? Who needs some good love today?
Making It Personal Kids
What are some ways you can do good to someone else? Has anyone ever done good to you? Who can you do good to today?
Closing Prayer
Father, You always do good to us and yet we fail at living in the same loving manner. Give us hearts which love others, especially our brothers and sisters of the faith, in a way which has us doing good to them. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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