Follow good

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. – 1 Thessalonians 5.14-15

Follow that which is good, both and among yourselves and to all men.

The word of God is often profound in its simplicity. Sometimes the most important parts of godly living are such simple things.

Follow good is preceded by warn the unruly, comfort the feeble, support the weak, and be patient with all. Then ‘never return evil for evil.’

At the end of all that we see the summation of it all – follow the good among yourselves and to all men.

Basically, we are told to do what is good for each other because it is not all about us.

In our relationships it is clear that we are to act differently than the rest of the world. We can’t allow ourselves to get provoked and to treat others like they treat us. We think of doing good for any and everyone we encounter, no matter how they treat us.

My problem is that responding to evil with evil is my natural response.  I want to get pay back, just like anyone would.

And that’s the problem – God’s people are not to be like everyone else. We are to be different and make a difference by our goos behaviour. Our good behaviour contingent on two things, our love for God and our love for others. If we love `God we will do good for Him and we love others we will do good for them. Doing good is not conditional based on our circumstances. We just do good and and leave it in God’s hand.