DOING GOOD DEEDS by Joseph Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 21, 1876

DOING GOOD DEEDS.

By Joseph Clarke

It is said of Christ that he went about doing good, and an apostle says that we should do good to all men as we have opportunity. We need not wait for great opportunities, but improve all opportunities of doing a little good. Do a little at a time if we can do no better. Doing this, it will happen occasionally that a greater opportunity will present itself.

But it happens every day that we may deny ourselves the indulgence of evil acts, thoughts, and words, and thus by resisting bad deeds, and by encouraging good ones, we may double our effectiveness in the work of doing good; because the evil restrained will count more than good actually done, taken by itself alone.

Let us not say we have nothing to do while we can keep our hearts and minds in the love of God, and can lift an arm or a hand in the daily duties of life, or can say a word for the right, or lift a prayer for the fallen and the faint-hearted, or say a word of encouragement to the sad and the sorrowful. The time spent in making excuses and apologies, and in trying to shun work, if filled up with the same labor in duty and usefulness, would fill the world with mercy and alms deeds.

Do not take things in a contrary manner, but with wisdom and sweet sunny smiles proceed constantly on and on in daily life, never fretting nor whining; but put the rein on the tongue and the mind, and train all your powers to build up all around you hope, faith, purity, love, and good courage.

JOSEPH CLARKE.