Do Good to Others

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.  (Proverbs 3:27-28, NASB)

The excerpt above is from Proverbs 3, and is more advice from King Solomon to one of his sons.  To me, this advice is along the lines of loving your neighbor as yourself.  

When asked by a scribe to tell him the “foremost” commandment, Jesus replied, “you shall love the Lord your God” with all your being; “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”  (Mark 12:28-31)  Jesus’ guidance is simple, and had been previously given in the Law of Moses:  Love God and love other people.  If we could only do this, there would be no trouble in this world.  In heaven, all of us will love the Lord, and love others.  “Your kingdom come.  Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  (Matthew 6:10)

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/pro.3.27.NIV
Proverbs 3:27 image.  Found at I Live For Jesus, https://iliveforjesus.in/do-not-withhold-good/

This guidance applies to our enemies as well.  We’re called to love everyone, not just those who love us.  There are no caveats, no exceptions.  “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Or the Lord will see it and be displeased, And turn His anger away from him.”  (Proverbs 24:17-18)  And, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the Lord will reward you.”  (Proverbs 25:21-22)

Loving one’s neighbor is often hard.  If it was easy, it wouldn’t be commanded in the Law of Moses, repeated in King Solomon’s Proverbs, and emphasized by King Jesus!  Loving one’s enemies is doubly (at least!) hard.  But the Bible calls for us to leave revenge up to God.  God will take retribution on those who hate His people.  It all comes down to loving God, and loving people.  Without exception! 

Worship:  “Worthy,” by Elevation Worship

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