Being Good Vs. Doing Good

Being Good Or Doing Good?

I was getting my kids ready for bed one night when one of them brought me an older story book from when I was a kid.

Surprisingly, I remember most of the stories, or at least the general idea of them, and it’s been a fun experience to sit down with them and watch their reactions as I recall the pages from my childhood.

This particular night, the chosen story was called “Being Good Or Doing Good?” The story starts out as one friend asks another friend, who is sitting on a stump, what he is doing. The friend who is sitting explains that he is being good. The first friend asks what he means and he explains that someone told him that if he’s not doing anything bad, then logically, he must be good. So his plan was to remain sitting on the stump, not doing anything bad, so that he could be good.

After realizing what he meant, the first friend takes him to see some of their other friends who all need help in some way. After helping them, each of these friends praises him for being a good friend. The first friend explains that not doing bad things isn’t enough to be good, we also have to do good things, especially for others.

Being Good Vs. Doing Good

See, the friend who learned the lesson was applying the same logic that I think a lot of believers use today. Many of us think that because we aren’t actively doing anything wrong, we’re automatically doing good, or even living according to how we should as believers.

But, in reality, while we may not be doing something bad, we really aren’t doing anything at all, which can be just as detrimental to the Kingdom of God.

"'Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.'"
MATTHEW 7:21 NLT

There is a difference between not actively sinning, and running the race that God has for you full force.

I Used To Be In The Sitting Camp

For so many years, I felt like I was going through the motions.

Sure, I had my morals and my definite lines that wouldn’t be crossed that I felt separated me from the world, but honestly, I didn’t look that different. I always thought that my transformation was just not that dramatic. That my life for Christ wouldn’t cause waves. After all, I HATED confrontation! I found it completely crippling.

So I sat in my pretty Christian bubble and thought I was doing great by showing up for church late once a week and not doing anything bad.

But then December of 2020 happened, and if you’ve heard me talk about it before you’ll know, that I had a lightbulb moment. It was like someone flipped a switch and I was changed.

I had decided to let go of the opinions of the world. Let go of what other people thought of me. Let go of all of it, because if 2020 taught us anything, the things of this world are not promised and they can be taken away in an instant.

I decided to dive deeper into my relationship with God, to truly look at what living fully for Jesus really means. To be more intentional with what God’s given me and to be a better steward of my gifts and my blessings for His glory.

And let me tell you, THAT transformation was and is continuing to be so much bigger.

It wasn’t that I didn’t have an amazing story to tell, it was that I wasn’t allowing God to continue writing the pages. I had set the book down a long time ago and busied myself with life, checking off accomplishments that I thought the world would notice.

If you’d have told me then some of the things that I’ve done in the last year, I definitely wouldn’t have believed you. But that’s how God works. He calls the unqualified and qualifies them for His glory.

The Church Today

Unfortunately, I feel like this is a problem with a large majority of the church today. Many of us get comfortable in our routines, check off our church box every week and think that if we aren’t intentionally sinning, we’re doing what we’re supposed to do.

But God doesn’t call us to be complacent, He calls us to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."
EPHESIANS 2:10 NLT

"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."
MATTHEW 28:19 NLT

The Great Commission says “GO!” We can’t sit still and live out all that God has for us.

So Where Do We Start?

Start with the little things in your every day life. Look for small opportunities to do good for others; to treat others with kindness and respect; to go above and beyond for someone at work or your family.

Consistent habits of kindness will make a difference, even if they don’t seem so significant in the moment.

People will start to develop an idea of what your priorities are. When you practice active listening everyday, your coworkers will know you’re someone who they can talk to when they need help. If you’re always going above and beyond for others and stewarding your skills well, you’ll be considered dependable and people will know they can rely on you.

Start doing good on a regular basis, show others that they are loved and turn them back to Jesus. Step out of your comfort zone and commit to the Kingdom and you’ll see God do incredible things.