JESUS CHRIST "went about doing good." He did good in a practical way, always considering the manifest temporal needs of suffering humanity. He healed all manner of afflictions, whether mental or physical, even in a miraculous way feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. But all this had an ulterior purpose which was paramount to everything else. The prime mission of Jesus Christ to this world was to save sinners, and all the temporal relief work He did was a means to that end.
All charity work, or relief work, that has not in view the spiritual welfare of those who are assisted is work but partially done. Concerning the eternal welfare of the assisted one, such work may do more harm than good. It sometimes occurs that infidels will do relief work, will help the poor and relieve the suffering, and the one benefited will use that fact as an excuse for not accepting Christ as a Saviour. He has only in mind the necessities of this life, and, having received medical, or financial, or other needed assistance from men who were not Christians, he says, "I have no need of Christ; unbelievers have done more for me than Christians have done." Thus men may be carried away to final destruction by the very means that Christ would have used for their salvation.
Hence the great importance of doing good in the name of Christ, that some may thereby find relief for their souls as well as for their bodies. In this principle we have the example of Christ, who, when doing good works, gave all the glory to his heavenly Father, for the reason that they were the Father's works, and the Father had sent Him to do them. The one who does good works in his own name, or takes the credit to himself, or gives the credit to any worldly institution, robs God of the glory due to His name. For all the power to do good is of God.
God is always good and merciful and long-suffering, and is always testing His creatures by giving them opportunity and power to do good. Even Judas, whom Christ knew to be a thief, was given large opportunity in this way—having the power even to work miracles in the name of Christ. So it is possible to do relief work,—to give necessary things to those in need, to assist in building charitable institutions, and in various ways to do those things that are good or appear good, and yet do it all in a spirit of selfishness, with a view to personal glory and even material gain.
But to be actuated by the Spirit of Christ, and to do good for the glory of His name and for the furtherance of His cause, may produce the double effect of giving bodily relief and calling attention of the world to the great salvation for which the Son of God gave His life. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him."