Do Good

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

This verse begs the question...to whom is good due? It seems to suggest that there are those to whom good is NOT due. Otherwise, the verse would just have said, "do not withhold good." I suspect that nuance is not where God wants me dwelling. I suspect the larger message is: when able, I need to be actively doing good. This, unfortunately, is not nearly so easy as trying to figure out who doesn't deserve 'good'. In fact, I think this is a problem that could quickly snowball into spending so much time discerning who is worthy of good that I don't manage to actually do one good thing for anyone. Perhaps it is best to just do good whenever I can, and let God deal with the issue of whether the recipient is due that goodness or not. Of course, then a new problem emerges...what exactly is "good" ?

Sometimes, those to whom good is due is clearcut. Like doing good to those devastated families and helpers of Newtown as much as it is in my power to do so. My cousin Sue from Newtown posted a letter from a father of one of the murdered children. He thanked the community, the world, for the outpouring of prayers, notes, and gifts. He said that with one breath at a time, together, they would get through this and that the prayers of so many did help.

Sometimes it is hard to do good, separated by time and distance from those to whom it is due. It was encouraging to know that prayers could be felt and appreciated by such a hurting soul. And prayers are ALWAYS in our power to accomplish.

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


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