THE PURPOSE OF DOING GOOD

During my college years, I often struggled to pay for tuition fees. There was once a kind man who paid off all my tuition fees. I thanked him. 'Thank God,' he replied. At that time, I felt I should thank him for donating his money for my education. However, later on, I realized that was how it should be. Good deeds should be used as a means to direct people's eyes towards God.

For the same reason, Barnabas and Paul tore their clothes. They explained that they were just ordinary men, just like everyone else. The miraculous event that had just been seen, a man who had been lame and crippled since birth, but then stood up and walked, was not their good deed, but God's good deed. They didn't need to offer sacrifices because they were not divine figures. They were only messengers of the Gospel proclaiming the living God, who created the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them. Not the gods Zeus and Hermes coming down in human form, instead, God declared His mercy among His people. Furthermore, Barnabas and Paul declared that those people should turn away from their futile deeds and look to the one and only God.

Many people still don't understand the purpose of doing good. As a result, there is frustration or disappointment when kindness is not responded to pleasantly. Nowadays, let's realize what we should do through our kindness. Let people's eyes look towards God, then joy will overflow in our hearts, even if no one praises or appreciates our kindness. --LIN/www.renunganharian.net