|
|
Are You A Do Gooder? Matthew 25.31-40 Introduction
The term “do gooder” has negative connotations. It tends to imply a person
that has good intentions but is naïve. Usually doing more harm than good.
However, most of us try to “do good” in our life. I tend to believe that
most people care about others and but some times fall short. I)
Doing Good = love A)
Our God 1.
Such love should motive us to obey His commandments and want to be with Him. 2.
It was love that motivated Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. B)
Our fellow man 1.
This list would include our enemies, neighbors, and family. 2.
Such love should motivate us to consider their needs and treat them properly. C)
Our brethren, 1 Peter 2.17 1.
This means we are to consider the needs of each other, encourage each other, and
help each other, Galatians 6.10 2.
It is this last element that I want to spend the rest of this lesson. II)
Doing Good = helping those in need, Acts 9.36 A)
In the Bible we see congregations helping other congregations in need, Acts
11.27-30 1.
Another instance was later on when the church in
a. It was to help the poor
b. It was fitting and proper for the Gentiles to be concerned about and
help their brethren. 2.
We see the collection talked about in 2
Corinthians 8 – 9. 3.
2 Corinthians 8.1-5 we see the depth
of their commitment to help their brethren. 4.
Resulting in:
a. Those helping being benefited, v.
10
b. The needy being helped, 2
Corinthians 9.12
c. God being glorified, v. 13 5.
In many ways this is the easiest type of benevolence, just write a check 6.
One reason so many may have supported the idea of the church helping
non-Christians is because they did not have to. B)
Most of the benevolence in the Bible is individual in nature 1.
We have liberty to help Christians and non-Christians. 2.
We are to help our parents, and other family, 1
Timothy 5.8, 16
a. Not to give up our individual responsibility to the church
b. Not fulfilling this responsibility reflects on us and our God III)
Doing Good = shows Christ, A)
It is through our love for each other that the world will know we are disciples
of Christ, John 13.34-35 B)
What does this say about us when we are not doing good? 1.
When this does not happen then it discourages those
in need 2.
It reflects upon our God 3.
We are depriving ourselves of a
blessing, Acts 20.35 III)
Hindrances to Do Gooders A)
Just not seeing the need to do good. B)
Not see what the real need is. 1.
May be encouragement, taking someone to the doctor, raking the yard, etc. 2.
Take time and effort but a lot of benevolence is not money. B)
Being too busy –we have good intentions but bad follow through 1.
We plan on doing some thing “tomorrow” but not today 2.
But today is all we have, 2 Corinthians
6.2 3.
It applies to our salvation and to us in general C)
Being a respecter of persons, prejudice 1.
We are all members of Christ’s body and when one member suffers all the
members suffer with it. 2.
Not everyone will have the same need but the need, needs to be fulfilled. D)
Lack of commitment- without commitment nothing gets done. Tell me one thing you
have ever done without commitment. IV)
Do Gooders A)
Care about everyone—tell me one person that does not deserve your attention. B)
Have their priorities right – take time to see what is going one, show proper
concern, do what you can. C)
Do their part, Galatians 6.9; 2 Thess. 3.13 D)
Understand individual responsibility.
(Read story: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody Conclusion
Doing good is not a substitute for obeying the Gospel, worshipping God, studying
your Bible, etc. Obeying the Gospel is not a substitute for doing good. They are
to work together.
|