Be Good To People

So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good to all people. Galatians 6:10

Ever heard the story of the Good Samaritan? The story is told in the gospel of Luke 10:29-37. In the story, a certain man travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho fell into the hands of robbers who beat him, robbed him of his possessions and left him there to die. Lying down on the ground while in desperate need of help; a priest came down the road, saw him and passed by him. A Levite came down the same road and did the same thing as the priest; he didn’t care to help. But when a Samaritan saw the man, he felt compassion on the man. He attended to his wounds and took him to the nearest inn.

So, who was the neighbor to the man? In today’s time, people are hurting, suffering and in need of help. The parable of a Good Samaritan encourages us to be good to people. How sensitive are you to the needs of another? We have become so ingrown to the point where we only think of my problems, my needs, my goals, my life, where all you think of is about yourself and not paying any attention to those around you. How can you be blessed if you don’t know how to be a blessing? God’s blessings always overflow. God blesses you so that you can be a blessing to another. His blessings are not supposed to end with you. Paul also writes in Galatians, “Be mindful to be a blessing.”

I have learnt, in every moment that we live there is always an opportunity to be good to somebody. As occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good to all people. Stay open to be good to someone to every opportunity that opens up. Being good to someone doesn’t always mean to give away your money but your time, a word of encouragement, a positive compliment, or even sharing what you have. Be sensitive and attend to their needs. When you go out of your way to help a friend, a colleague, a widow, a street child or someone in pain, God takes it as personal. Because you took the time to be good to somebody else, God will take care of your needs. I heard someone say” wherever there is a human being that is an opportunity to be kind.”

When you bring a smile to somebody else, God will bring a smile back to you. The most rewarding way to live life is through kindness. It is not always about what can I get from you or what can you do for me, but really what can I give and how can I express my kindness. No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted. The opportunity to be good to someone is always there. Don’t have to wait for special days or holidays to be good but every day is an opportunity to be good to people. The more you bless other, the more God will bless you. Be on the look-out and ask yourself who can I be good to? And God will show you.

Someone once said, “if you want happiness for an hour take a nap, if you want happiness for a day go fishing, if you want happiness for a month get married, if you want happiness for a year win a lottery, but if you want happiness for a lifetime be good to people.” You can pray to God to bless you, and forget that you can become a miracle and a blessing to someone else. Let God use you to be the blessing and a miracle that someone else needs.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be good to people because you are so focused on your own problems and the obstacles you face in life. Make it a priority to be good to others even when you are hurting. Sometimes we attend to angels unaware. Psalm 37:3 say, “trust in the LORD and do good.” I pray that you would take time to be a blessing to someone each day. Be blessed.