The Art of Do-Gooding

“Thanks so much for opening your home to us,” I wrote, truly thankful to our friends for their helpfulness in relocating to a new area.

Their kindness reminded me of a verse, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it” (Proverbs 3:27).

Practical Do-Gooding

One of the qualities that drew me to my husband years ago was how he reached out and helped people. It was surprising to see a high school student on his own, visiting shut-ins, mowing their lawns, fixing things around their homes, and so on.

His outreach also included being kind to fellow-students who were often left out of groups. As a teenage girl, I witnessed his compassionate do-gooding towards individuals who needed it the most, a quality that demonstrated to me what the wooden, homemade cross he wore around his neck really meant to him.

Opportunities Knocking

Another verse that encourages do-gooding is, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10).

I remember the many kindnesses Christians have shown our family over the years, especially during circumstances that took us by surprise including a premature birth, being hit by the “No Name Storm of the Century,” and more. During these ordeals we received expressions of service, generosity, and care from individuals who didn’t even know us face-to-face but because of the situation and need stepped in to help.

Because of what we were going through in the moment, I’m sure we missed the depth of their efforts, not realizing how they may have sacrificed to give of their resources, time, and energy to help us.

Yet, these do-gooders have helped to deepen my faith by giving me a clearer picture of my Heavenly Father’s love for me.

Original Do-Gooder

From the 1950s until the early 1990s, Romper Room was a popular children’s television series. Opening with the Pledge of Allegiance, it presented children with 30 minutes of games, exercises, songs and moral lessons, even including a prayer of “God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. Amen” before serving milk and cookies.

One of the recurring characters was Mr. Do-Bee, an oversized bumblebee who served as a good example to viewers of how to treat others.

However, Mr. Do-Bee was not the original do-gooder as Acts 10:38 states, “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good.”

Jesus was known as a do-gooder. And as the exact representation of God’s nature, His do-gooding drew individuals to God (Hebrews 1:3).

Do-Be A Do-Gooder

Ephesians 2:10 encourages me to do the same stating, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Like Jesus I’m called to be a do-gooder, to respond to the opportunities God has ready for me, and to represent His nature to those around me.