opportunity | Karina's Thought

Once upon a time, in the cold morning, a young woman cries in the front of the old homeless man who had died at the corner of the sidewalk. “Why are you crying, mam? Are you his family?” Someone asked. The women replied, “No, He is not my family. I don’t even really know who he is” “If so, why you look so sad?” The women replied again, “Yesterday morning, I saw him lying down here. Somehow, my heart was moved and has a plan to buy him a food and drink after I go back from the office. What makes me sad and deeply regret is, I put off my plan and just did it this morning. But it turns out this morning he was passing away. I deeply regret why I put off the chance to do something good while there is an opportunity to do so.”

My beloved friends, here we talk about do good. There are six things that should to bear in our heart and mind in doing good.

Why we should to do good? Every religion has always taught its followers to do good. But there is something different with us as Christian. What is the difference? First, let’s have a look to 3 John 1:11,

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.

This verse affirmed that for the Christians do good is not just a moral instigation and not just something mandatory to be done, also not as a way to get salvation or so we can live in Our Father’s home in heave but rather as a Christian identity. Do good is a faith expression and a proof that we fulfill the God’s law, reflect the God’s love, we were created to do good in accordance to that has outlined by God.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.(Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2 NIV)

When we should to do good? Paul was advising the Galatians,

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:10 NASB)

My beloved friends, we must realize one thing that our life in this world is very limited. We really don’t know how long we will live in this world. We don’t even know until how old we live. We are grateful if we are given longevity by God, it is God’s great blessing. But still we are not able to determine how long we live. God will determine. We live in this world only stay, as it is written in 1 Peter 1:17,

…conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;

We don’t have to wait the right time and the right place to do good. While there is opportunity to do good, let’s do it. We shouldn’t be like a young woman in the story above who put off the opportunity to do good and finally she got deep regret. We should not miss the opportunity that has been given by God to do good. The opportunity to do good is an opportunity to please and glorify Him, to change our lives and the lives of those who got our help. To do good is a great commission from God.

To whom we should do good? First we have do good start from our household of faith then to all those who in need and deserve.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. (Proverbs 3:27 NASB)

To do good also not consider the race, religion, social status, gender, and so on. The second foremost commandment said,

‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’(Matthew 22:39 NASB)

What the purpose we do good? We have to realize that do good to others is not for a personal interest such as want to be appreciated, or be respected and without expecting to get anything back. We should to do good with full of merciful.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend them without expecting to get anything back… Be merciful, just as you Father is merciful (Luke 6:35, 36 NIV)

Where we should do good? Anywhere as long we have opportunity to do good, whether in the office, church, in our family, or in neighborhood around us. Anywhere! Just because everything we do is only for God.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. (Colossians 3:23 NIV)

How we do good? There are so many ways to do good. We could start with these things such as: give big attention, affection, and patience hear someone sharing their problems. Encourage and pray to those who have affliction and suffering. We also could give support in the form of funds to those in need, if we be able.

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40 NIV)

My beloved friends, have we done something good for other in our lives? Have we utilized opportunity that has been given by God to do good? This evening allow me to encourage all of us to make “Do good” as our lifestyle. Don’t be weary in doing good anywhere, anytime, and to anyone who needs our helping hand for the time comes we will reap the harvest of what we have done.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9 NIV)

Don’t eliminate our identity as the followers of Christ. Don’t put off the opportunity to do good because it may not happen again. Let’s use the opportunity that has been given by God to glorify His name, radiate His great love to the world through to do good to others. Amen.

Karina – Living by faith

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