March 6th 2016
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” – Galatians 6:9-10 (NLT)
One of the basic concepts of Christianity is to do good – plain and simple. Pretty much anyone who’s gone to church, Sunday school, youth group, or any other Christian gathering has always been taught to follow God’s commands and be a generally “good” person. As simple as this sounds, it can feel a lot more complex. The human world usually teaches us to serve and focus on ourselves first, but as Christians, we learn to put others above ourselves. A lot of the time, I find myself and people around me feeling selfless and kind toward others, then getting tired and asking the very human-like question, “What’s in it for me?” With no personal benefits in sight, everyone reverts back to putting themselves above others until a selfless streak happens. This cycle continues and becomes extremely vicious.
Galatians 6:9 advises us to deny these feelings and “not get tired of doing what is good.” Even if we can’t see it yet, God will allow us to “reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” By trusting in God’s uncontrollable and incomprehensible plan and believing that with obedience, love, and patience, we will gain the ultimate reward of life in Heaven.
I also often notice others and myself passing up opportunities to do good things. We hold ourselves back due to fear of rejection, judgment, or suffering. Sometimes people won’t do a simple task for someone else because they don’t see any benefit for themselves coming out of it. In Galatians 6:10, we are instructed to “do good to everyone” whenever the opportunity presents itself. Never pass up a chance to do something for anyone because you never know what effect you could have on his or her life. This verse goes one step further when it adds to do good “especially to those in the family of faith.” Even though we may have petty conflicts with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are a family. Families support and love each other unconditionally and the Church should be no exception. After all, we are brothers and sisters who share one Father, one Son, and one ultimate love that we are tasked with spreading throughout the world.
To sum up, God wants us to take these very simple verses and live them out, no matter how difficult it can be. The more good we do, the easier it will become, and with faith and persistence, we will be rewarded for all the good we do in the name of the Lord.
– Jennifer Myers
