Do Good.

I’ve been reading through the book of Galatians recently and while the letter from Paul is chock-full of fantastic theology (it was the rediscovery of this book that kickstarted Martin Luther’s 95 Theses and the Reformation), it was a simple reminder at the end that I needed to hear today:

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone.” (Galatians 6:10).

Doing good to everyone can mean a lot of things, and Paul was definitely thinking of the spiritual life as well as the everyday world we live in. As a Christian, I know that doing good should include praying for people, encouraging them in their faith, living a godly life–there are lots of things I should do to make sure I’m “doing good.”

But beyond the spiritual, the everyday life needs me to do good, too. My wife needs that. My kids need that. My coworkers need that. Doing good every day can be summed up in one word: kindness. Kindness is doing a selfless act without expectation of anything in return. It could be something big, like volunteering your time at a local charity, or something small, like holding the door open for someone or letting them go ahead of you in line. A simple act of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s day. It can brighten their mood, make them feel appreciated, and even inspire them to be kind to others. This leads to joy for you, joy for them—leaving ripples of kindness and joy around the world! (I call this #restingmerry, but you can call it whatever you’d like.)

Paul even makes sure we understand when we are supposed to do it: “As we have opportunity.” That is pretty much all the time. Doing good to others by showing kindness doesn’t need to be scheduled. It doesn’t need to fit into the calendar. Doing good when we can means we will do good as often as time allows, and time gives us plenty of opportunity. Here are a few ways to do good and show kindness:

• Smile at someone and say hello.
• Compliment someone on something they’ve accomplished.
• Write a thank-you note to someone just to tell them they are awesome.
• Offer to help out a friend or neighbor.
• Share an encouraging word or thought.
• Do the chore everyone else hates doing.

Remember : “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone.” (Galatians 6:10). In other words, be kind to everyone! Small acts of kindness can make a big difference in the world. And God knows the world needs everyone to do good to each other. It’s why He puts this reminder in the Bible, so we don’t forget.