Let Us Do Good
by Michelle Stace

 

'As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto
them who are of the household of faith.' Gal. 6:10

 

     Doing good to others is treating them with genuine kindness and respect, and helping them when in need. Do you think of helping others as an opportunity, a privilege, or do you think of it as an inconvenience? Helping others in its truest sense means sacrifice and unselfishness. There is only one right motive in one's desire to help others: our love for God - which results in His love flowing through us for others. It is for this reason a believer wants to help another.
      If we are helping others as a service to the Father, we must be sure of our motives and this involves self-examination. Be very honest with yourself for God knows your heart. You may deceive others for a time but it will gain you nothing. Is the right reason motivating us or does one of the following wrong reasons motivate us? Usually when a person needs help there is something out of their control, such as illness, loss of a loved one, financial need, disability, lack of knowledge in a particular area, etc. Some people help because they like the feeling of control they have over that person as they tell them what to do. Some help because of the sense of power it gives them since those that need help are in a degree of weakness. Part of our humanness is the desire to be needed - which isn't a bad thing in itself - but it is an incorrect motive for helping. Others help because it makes them feel good about themself - this is pride. Another reason to help is the praise received from others, which puffs up the ego.
     We must never help someone grudgingly or with an attitude of judgment. By this I mean a spirit of condemnation (declaring guilty - this is God's work only). We are to judge as far as discerning right from wrong, but always remembering that we do not know all the facts in a particular case. Having an air of judgment or superiority will alienate, rather than draw, the one being helped to Christ. We are to help with a spirit of meekness and gentleness "lest thou also be tempted." Gal. 6:1  Please understand that no one is fit to serve Christ in any great capacity until the self-life has been crucified with Him and His love has been developed in them.
     Developing the right motive for helping others doesn't just happen. It is part of sanctification. It is a result of abiding in Christ - for apart from Him we can do nothing. Sanctification is basically bringing every aspect of our lives into obedience to Christ - one little thing at a time. This is the work the Father performs in us though the Holy Spirit as we seek Him first. Abiding in Christ is making Him our ALL in ALL. He is our peace, our righteousness, our rest, our very life. We are to look to Him in utter dependence - like the branch does to the vine. The branch does not do anything but wait for the vine to give its sap to it. The sap is the life blood of the branch and with it the branch puts forth bud, then leaf, then flower, then fruit. But none of this can be done apart from the vine. In like manner are we to be in Jesus. His life, His love, His Spirit are to flow in us and produce the fruits He desires, and part of the fruit produced in us is love to others and a desire to help. This and other fruit are side goals -  a result of the primary goal - which is to be completely Christ's own.