p. 12 | DO GOOD by Allen C. Brown

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 4, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 49.

DO GOOD.

By Allen C. Brown

The admonition in Ps. 37:3, “Trust in the Lord, and do good,” is well worthy of our consideration in this age of selfishness and pleasure-seeking. Many would have it read, “Trust in the Lord and feel good.” The worldly church is seeking this good feeling. In large assemblies and numerous conventions, where there is much enthusiasm manifested, a good feeling comes in which is pleasant and alluring, and the people come to think that because they are feeling good, they must be really good, heeding not the two small words, “Do good.”

Many times when one is doing good, he will be far from feeling good. Our Saviour “went about doing good,” but He suffered everything at the hands of cruel men. He even endured the shame of the cross for the sake of saving a lost world. In order to do good we must sacrifice self completely, and trust in the Lord. In other words, give up the pleasant feeling, if need be, of ease and comfort; even forego a pleasant service in the house of God in order to minister to another’s needs.

Perhaps on a gloomy day we may have to lay aside a soul-inspiring book which we are enjoying, cosily seated by an open grate, which, of course, is very pleasant, to help some one in distress, thus heeding the voice, “Do good.” It will not be agreeable at the time to leave our comfortable place; but James sums it up in these words, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Not one word does the apostle say about good feeling. That is, we are to do good whether it is pleasant or not. Leave the feelings with the Lord. So “let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

If one has a pleasant life all the time, watch out; for the Word says, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” In other words, all who do good shall suffer persecution. We may have peace of mind; that certainly is our privilege; but we must not expect to feel good always. Not that we will have no pleasant times when we are doing well; but let us not be disappointed if we do not experience them all or any of the time. We should ask ourselves, Can I do good by doing such an act? Will it be for the glory of God, or for my own selfish pleasure? Let us even ask ourselves what our motive is in going to divine worship on the Sabbath day. If we go from a selfish motive, the Lord can not bless us while in that condition. We should go to do good, and with the Lord’s blessing, get good.

The time is coming, and we trust is not far off, when all those who do good in this present world will both do good and be happy all the time; for we read, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:17. So those who are not seeking for comfort and pleasure and happiness in this present experience have this for their consolation, that they will be numbered among those spoken of in Rev. 3:21: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

Lacon, Ill. ALLEN C. BROWN.