Focus: No Excuse

Text: Eph.6:8

"Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be BOND or FREE."

Paul is talking to all of us and wants us to know that it is good to do good. Again, he wants us to know that doing good is eternally rewarding, and that the reward is measured by the quality and quantity of the deed done, not more, not less. In other words, you get what you give. You decide and determine your own reward.

God is taking records of every act of kindness we do and the works of mercy we render.

Paul also wants us to know that no condition or status of life is enough excuse to keep us from doing good. The 'free' can do good as well as the 'bond.'

Paul says of a church, "How that in a GREAT TRIAL of AFFLICTION the abundance of their joy and their DEEP POVERTY abounded unto the riches of their liberality" - 2Cor.8:2. They wouldn't allow their deep poverty to keep them from supporting Paul once and again.

Remember the widow and her mites: "And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites" - Lk.21:2. Remember also the four lepers that told everyone in the city where to find food and stuff (2Kgs.7:8-16).

We are all capable of some good regardless of our circumstances or conditions in life. Jesus says of a church, "I know your poverty (but you are rich)."

I remind myself always of the words of an old sage, "Do all the good you can, To all the people you can, By all the means you can, In all the places you can, As long as ever you can, For the sake of Jesus Christ." Hallelujah! Amen!

So to do good, everyone is inexcusable. Just do the good you can. Do the good God has ordained and equipped you to do. Do it now and do it for life.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter