Good Morning. The passage of scripture found in Galatians 6:7-10 tells us of the importance of living a life dedicated to godly goodness. By all means, please read this passage in your favorite translation. However, I would like to share this passage from Eugene Peterson’s “The Message”. I think that his plain-speaking paraphrase makes the point very well.
Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.
So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
Kind hearts are usually kind in very quiet ways. This is the person who lets the car merge in front of them. This is the person who encourages the young mother with a crabby child to go ahead of them in the line at the check-out. This is the person who takes the time to pick up their neighbor’s recycling when the barrel they left at the curb tipped over in the wind and spread their recyclables down the street. This is the person that takes the time to notice that the person at church they just greeted has something on their mind or in their heart. This is the person who invites someone to lunch to talk about things or offers to be of help.
This is the kind of person who, whether they realize it or not, is planting for themselves a wonderful crop that they will one day enjoy. They don’t think about the extra time, or effort, or even a bit of money it might be costing them. They simply have become the kind of person who does “good” things, “kind” things, and “thoughtful” things. This is the person who is building their relationship with God in a wonderful way simply by being “good”.
Be good today!
Vern