“Do Gooders” And Why I’m NOT One

“Do-Gooders” And Why I’m NOT One.  Doing good is well, good…right?

It may not be as simple as you think.  Let’s examine the heart of  “Do-Gooders” and why I’m NOT one anymore.   Saint Bernard of Clairvaux made a statement approximately 1150 A.D.   I am sure you have heard it…

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

God, in His Word, commands us to do good.    But what is good and how do we go about doing it?   There are actually 690 Bible verses that use the word good and we can mine each one of them for truth.

It may be helpful to define the word good so we know what it actually means.

The Hebrew word for good is tobh (טוב, translated in the ancient Greek “Septuagint” translation of the Old Testament as kalon, καλόν). Both Hebrew and Greek words are generic words for “good”, very much equivalent to the English word, and so much so that it is hard to draw any meaningful distinction between the three (the Greek kalon < kalos it is true does originally lean toward the aesthetic, while the word agathos (ἀγαθός) is more of a “good” in the practical sense: “good at something”, but even that is not necessarily true, especially in Koine Greek). In Harris, Archer and Waltke’s Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, Yamauchi outlines five areas of tobh: practical, abstract, quality, moral, and technical.

Websters 1828 Dictionary defines the word good as…

Having moral qualities best adapted to its design and use, or the qualities which God’s law requires; virtuous; pious; religious; applied to persons, and opposed to bad, vicious, wicked, evil.

Yet per adventure for a good man, some would even dare to die.   Romans 5:7

I don’t want to be redundant but my intent is that we are on the same page when we talk about what the word good actually means. We will be better able to see the difference between a “Do-Gooder” and one that “Does Good”.

“Do-Gooders” And Why I’m NOT One

I have had the privilege to travel and see places around the world.  Most of my travel has been on mission trips.   My experience on the mission field has caused me to have perspective.  My age has also given me perspective and caused me to closely look at my reasons for wanting to do good.  I have seen so many good things taking place in the United States and around the world that have encouraged and grown my faith!  I have also seen many well-intentioned people trying to do good but because their heart is not drawn to the things of God…they become ineffective “Do-Gooders”.

“Doing Good” to people and being a “Do-Gooder” is the heart of the person. Will, we elevate ourselves to the level of Go and do what is right in our own eye or will follow after God and let Him direct our hearts, minds, and deeds so that our ministry to others will be effective, worshipful, and God-honoring?  You see that the difference between effectively

In my opinion,  the number one problem with the so-called, “Do-Gooders”  is that they (and formerly me) have the arrogance to think they really know what is going on in a situation.   To know what the truth is about personal issues within a family or with a people group or within a community is impossible.   They don’t take the time to think things through.  It would be easy to think I am talking about unbelievers here but it is just as common among professing Christians.   We have deluded ourselves into thinking that our inventive and many times invasive ideas to help others will be effective.  When it is just the opposite and often times we end up causing real and lasting damage. We can never know all the circumstances behind individual personal issues.  Only God has the ability to see into each troubling circumstance and know the truth about how to help.

So what is a person to do, who genuinely wants to make a difference in the world and do good?

6 Tips To Help You “Do Good”

A person who wants to “Do Good” will be…

• Humble vs. arrogantly thinking they know what the problem is and how to solve it.
• Prayer focused vs. action base.d
• Focuses on pleasing God vs. pleasing people or agendas.
• Searches the Bible for a biblical model of ministry vs. using one’s own ideas and opinions as fact.
• Asks compassionate questions to the people involved and listens to their responses vs. acting without consulting or listening.
• Takes the time, sometimes a long time to think, research, pray and seek God’s will vs. relying on other models that have been successful.

One of the reasons I am so passionate about Christ-Centered Slow Living is because just by being intentional in the way you choose to live can open you up to listening to God more and not moving until you are called to do so.  I challenge each one of you to take a look at your actions in regard to your family, friends, church, and personal ministries.  Are you a  “Do-Gooder” or a person who “Does Good”?

YOUR TURN… 

What are some ways that God has shown you how to go forth and do good?

Blessings,