Hebrews 13:16
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
The scripture in Hebrews explains us that we should not ‘forget to do good’ – the immediate question in mind would be; can anyone forget to do good? I am sure as simple human beings we have every possibility to forget to do good since our mind set is such. Doing bad naturally comes into play since we always wait for the opportunity to pounce on the one who has done bad to us or rather feel good if something goes wrong for them. The world vouches for it by saying, ‘Survival of the fittest’ as misunderstood by Darwin but the Bible speaks about a contradiction called ‘Doing Good – a win over evil by being and doing good’. This sermon will Biblically elucidate the purpose and the reasons for ‘Doing Good’- with Barnabas as an example for us to follow.
Some might wonder why Barnabas and why not Jesus Christ – the reason is simple since some would argue that Jesus was God and Man and therefore it was easy for Jesus to do good and do well. But it will be difficult for pure human being to do good always and that is why Barnabas since he followed the foot steps of Jesus Christ and lived doing good.
BIBLICAL REASONS FOR DOING GOOD
Reason – I
Doing Good – PORTRAYS GODLY NATURE
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
We are created in the image and the likeness of God and the purpose why we are created like that is to do good works as Paul writes in Ephesians. If God has created us to do good works why then most of the time, we end up doing bad. I am sure the answer lies within us it is our choice if we chose doing bad we follow the world if we chose doing good we follow the word. Therefore, folks decide whether it is the world or the word. The scripture is clear that we are created in Christ Jesus to do works therefore let us do only good. Let us look at the example from the life of Barnabas how was he doing good in a wicked world.
An introduction to Barnabas is given in Acts 4:36 that Joseph a Levite from Cyprus sold a property and laid at the apostle’s feet and the apostles called him Barnabas that means son of encouragement. Selling a property and giving the proceeds of the sale to common cause in itself is a good deed done. More than this deed Barnabas introduced the persecutor ‘Saul’ to the apostles when everyone was unwilling to believe the fact that he was saved by grace. However, it was Barnabas who risked his reputation and introduced Paul to the Disciples of Christ (Acts 9:27). When Antioch had more believers, the disciples entrusted the growing church to the care of Barnabas but he did not desire to do it alone rather he went and looked for Paul in Tarsus and they continued the work of the Lord. We live in a time where no one ever dares recommending people for anything but Barnabas risked his reputation for the sake of God’s purpose of the gospel and did good by introducing Paul to the disciples as well as taking him in for growing work and portrayed Godly nature.
Reason – II
Doing Good – PRODUCES A HARVEST
Galatians 6:9
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
A big question is can we become tired or upset or weary in doing good? Well the answer is a big yes. The reason is simple since we love doing good and when we do good we expect good from the others to whom the good is done, if that does not take place we get upset and give up doing good. In short doing good with expectations results in us becoming weary. Nevertheless, the Bible suggests that we do not become weary in doing good since at the proper time we will reap a harvest.
Let me speak little about harvest – for a greater harvest, we only sow a handful of grains. A handful can bring several bags full, such is the way the Lord blesses his people. Let us look again at Barnabas for a harvesting result, we read in Acts 11:24 about the harvest that Barnabas had for doing good. Acts 11:24 reads like this – “He was a good man, full of Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” A little bit of grammar could help us understand the strategy of harvest for doing good. The Bible tells us that – Barnabas was a good man full of Holy Spirit and faith; is a complete sentence but the word and is used as a conjunction to join another complete sentence namely – a great number of people were brought to the Lord. From this, it can be concluded that for great many to join the Lord there has to be a good-natured man full of Holy Spirit, leaves us with a result of cause and effect relationship. What an awesome God, He works in mysterious ways he added souls to the church because of Barnabas goodness, the passage does not mention of signs and wonders nor does it talk about the quality of worship or preaching but just about a man being good and the result is great harvest. Therefore, let us not become weary in doing good, since we will certainly reap a great harvest.
Reason – III
Doing Good – PLEASES GOD
Hebrews 13:16
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Finally, doing good pleases God. How can God be pleased when we do good, from the life of Barnabas it is evident. The man who introduced Paul (the persecutor convert) to the Disciples of Christ and did not leave at that also invited to Antioch to be a part of a growing Christian community (it was then in Antioch people who followed Christ were called Christians) now has a sharp disagreement. The guys (Barnabas and Paul) who began together are now having dispute over the accompaniment of another man named John Mark. In Acts 15: 36-41 Luke records this very vividly.
Dear people of God, now recall the first point I shared which said not to forget to do good and also the second point not to become weary, here is a man who has every reason to become upset and weary since what was done to him could be called as ungratefulness. Barnabas was the ultimate reason for Paul to have come to this level but here is a dispute that brings in disagreement and as a result, they parted company. Anyway, this was God’s master plan for the extension of His kingdom but from our perspectives of doing good, I don’t think it could allow Barnabas to handle this. The beauty lies in the fact that Barnabas handled it well. One of the Assemblies of God Preacher Raymond Carlson wrote, “Disagreements are not bad in themselves they are the marks of difference.” With this view in mind, if we look at it we know Barnabas never wanted to give up on Mark but decided to work with him though he let him down at Pamphylia. Paul took Silas and traveled. Some scholars say Barnabas took Mark because he was his cousin, but whatever be it common sense says it – it is indeed difficult to work in partnership with cousins. It is much easier to work with strangers and friends. Whether Mark was a cousin or not Barnabas wanted to do good portraying God’s nature he took Mark along for ministry.
Barnabas proved good and I am sure he would have pleased God since he gave Mark a second chance, and the best part about Mark is this – if Barnabas had not given a chance we would not have had the gospel of Mark. The special feature of the gospel is this – it is the first of the gospels written and records the maximum number of miracles performed by Christ Jesus.
Conclusion:
Well it is important to do good since:
Doing good –
1. Portrays Godly nature
2. Produces a great harvest
3. Pleases God
Therefore, when it is under our ability to do good, let us do good that is what our savior did. Doing good – following God. God bless you. Amen
