“What good can I do today?” That would be an interesting question for us Christians to ask ourselves daily. That sounds like a foregone conclusion. But, think about it more deeply. How many really ask that? I think the more typical silent questions raised daily include, “What do I NEED to do today?” Or, “What do I have TIME to do today?” Or, “What do I really WANT to do today?”
Doing good is a broad term, perhaps too broad for most people. It doesn’t sound stunning or provocative in the least. It doesn’t sound like it requires deep skill. But, it is truly a biblical idea. Peter, among those closest to Jesus, reported to some inquiring, God-seekers about Jesus, that Jesus “went around doing good” (Acts 10:38). The place is general (he “went around”), the activity is general (he was “doing good”). I’m sure that we could fill in some of the blanks. Paul said several times that we should focus on, never tire of and commit ourselves to “doing good” (Romans 12:21; 2 Thessalonians 3:13; Galatians 6:10; Romans 2:7). That takes not only a good person to accomplish, but a good person looking for ways to communicate and act on that goodness.
Perhaps we could ask the question in retrospect at the end of the day. “What good thing did I do today?” And the qualifying question, “Who benefited from my good?” I think that the church would see many more people peeking in the door of our services and asking leading questions about God if we were less interested in learning about the outsider and how to share with them and more interested in doing good for the outsider. Many people might not understand atonement theology. But, everyone understands when someone has done good for them and their loved ones and community.
What has been stunning to me, since our son took up his heavenly residence a couple of weeks ago is how many people have said the very un-profound in such a profoundly impactful sense. Many have simply said, “Mitch was always helping, serving, coming alongside and lifting up.” None of those activities are profoundly complex or difficult. It just takes someone willing to ask and act upon the question, “What good can I do today?” When we do, an avenue of possibilities open up to us. Jesus went around doing good. I would hope that could be said of me and you.