(NKJV) James 4:17 = “To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
(CEV) James 4:17 = “If you don’t do what you know is right, you have sinned.”
The best thing you can do for people who care you about is to follow God all the way: & pray for them & believe with them. We tend to focus on sins of ‘commission’ – the wrong we do. But what about sins of ‘omission’ – the good we fail to do? In Christ’s Parables, when someone was condemned, it was often over a sin of omission:
Matthew 22:12 – A man was put out of a wedding because he had no wedding garment
Matthew 25:3-11- Five virgins missed (were excluded from) the wedding party because they’d no oil in their lamps.
Matthew 25:25-28 – A servant who buried his talent in the ground instead of using it: thus, losing (or forfeiting) it
Luke 16:19-24 – A rich man who failed to care for his neighbour was condemned for it
Mark 11:20-24 – A barren fig tree that failed to produce fruit was cursed and died.
You say, ‘But I’m interested in a deeper spiritual life.’ Well, the deepest spiritual life is one spent doing good to others! And it’s the basis on which you’ll be Judged and Rewarded.
‘Then the King will…say… “I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.” Then they will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?” And he will answer, “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me”‘ (Matthew 25:41-45 NLT).
Nothing makes life sweeter than making people happy. The people you help today become your soldiers in the battle of life tomorrow. To invest in properties is good but to invest in people is far, far better. Try to make money but try also to make people great. Your greatest trophies should be the tears you wipe away from people’s faces not the things you acquire. Don’t let an ingrate stop you from making others great.
when you’ve a chance to do good – do it!
