WHAT DOES DOING GOOD MEAN? | Northstar Church

“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” – Psalm 37:3-5.

The Psalm 37 passage begins with the phrase ‘Trust in the Lord, and do good.” But what does that mean to do good? The short answer is doing good is actively engaging in acts of kindness and compassion as an expression of faith and a reflection of God’s character. Doing good is not just a suggestion, but a calling for believers to live out their faith through tangible deeds, serving others, and glorifying God.

The concept of “doing good” was virtually number one on the apostle Paul’s list. In his letter to Titus, he writes that God, in Jesus, “…gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds” (Titus 2:14 ). This emphasis appears several times throughout the letter, culminating in Paul’s closing exhortation: “Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive” (Titus 3:14).

Our ability to do good is a learned behavior as Paul tells us to “learn to do good by meeting the needs of others.” Our actions shouldn’t just be the result of an emotional tide. It should be a daily endeavor to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Being the hands and feet of Jesus means actively living out one’s faith through practical service and love, demonstrating Christ’s compassion and presence in the world. It involves embodying Christ’s love, mercy, and justice in everyday actions, showing kindness and compassion to others, and meeting their needs as Jesus would.

The vulnerable are so close to God’s heart that He considers our care for them to be caring for Himself. In Matthew 25:34-40, Jesus praises His followers who saw people in need and responded in love. “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me” (vs 40). That’s what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus: observing the needs around us, assessing our resources, and giving what we’re able.

We want to meet the needs of those around us, but where do we start? The starting point is rooting our lives in love. Doing something to help people is ultimately a display of God’s love. Like Jesus said in John 15:12, “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” We need to pray and be on the lookout for opportunities to express God’s love to others around the world. By simply taking time to ask God, He can make you aware of ways to serve that you never would’ve come up with on your own.

Jesus reminds us that serving others doesn’t have to be complicated. In Luke 3:11, he says, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” By praying for awareness, God can open our eyes to even the simplest opportunities to demonstrate His love for others.

Discussion Questions:

What does it mean to “do good” in the context of your daily life? (Consider how this extends beyond simple acts of kindness and includes your work, relationships, and interactions.)
How can you identify opportunities to do good that align with your unique skills and passions?
What are some practical ways to overcome the barriers or challenges that might prevent you from doing good?