Doing Good

Doing good is often associated with charity and religious acts, as many believe that such deeds lead to salvation (Mukti) or please God. However, if salvation could be attained through our actions alone, then Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross would have been unnecessary (Galatians 2:21).

Today, many perform good deeds merely to gain the approval of others rather than out of true righteousness. We conform to societal expectations and fear living by God’s standards, believing that while all things are possible for God, living righteously in every aspect of life seems beyond human capability. To challenge this belief, God sent His Son in human form. Despite carrying the weight of the world’s sins, Jesus remained obedient to His Father, even to the point of death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). Yet, the “god of this age” has blinded many from recognizing Jesus’ true nature.

What Does God Need?

Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it. ” – Genesis 4:6-7 (NIV)

God spoke to Cain when his heart was filled with envy—an emotion that often leads people to commit evil. Did God ask Cain to make another sacrifice with better offerings so that He might accept them? No, instead, God focused on Cain’s thoughts and intentions. He did not demand further deeds but urged Cain to pause and recognize where his envy was leading him.

Comparing God’s work in others’ lives to our own is a dangerous trap many fall into. Instead, we should seek to understand what God desires for us personally. When we align our hearts with His will, He guides us away from paths we take to earn His favor or from our own misguided strategies that allow evil to take root.

When God commands us to “do good,” He primarily refers to inward transformation rather than outward gestures. Yet, many focus on displaying good deeds externally while harboring evil within. God expected nothing from Cain but repentance. Likewise, if we truly want to do what is good, genuine repentance is what pleases God—anything else may lead to pride through self-satisfaction.

The Trend Of The Fallen World

In this fallen world, envy dominates people’s lives, driving them toward evil. Since the majority are consumed by envy and pride, wrongdoing has become commonplace. Rather than feeling ashamed of sin, people fear walking uprightly because no one else does. As a result, living in truth seems awkward, and many feel embarrassed to embrace it. This is why God calls us to learn to do good, as evil has already been deeply ingrained in human nature.

Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow. – Isaiah 1:17 (NIV)

Cynical thinking prevails when our hearts are filled with envy and possessiveness. Under such influence, people justify their wrongdoings in the name of justice. Therefore, before acting on His behalf, God urges us to align our thoughts with what is right in His sight. Many persecute followers of the truth, believing they are serving God.

They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. – John 16:2 (NIV)

Paul, before encountering Christ, opposed believers because his knowledge came from Scripture rather than a personal relationship with its Author. He persecuted Christians, thinking he was serving God. But once God revealed his errors, Paul urged believers not to conform to the world (Romans 12:1). Without personal experience with God, people end up serving Him while still living according to worldly standards.

When such individuals meet someone who genuinely walks in truth, they admire them, saying, “Wow, what a good person!” This kind of praise can mislead a person into believing they are serving God exceptionally. Such remarks arise because people often try to do something extra for God while maintaining their worldly lifestyle. However, for God’s children, walking in the light should be as natural as breathing. If someone is praised for it, they should remain cautious, lest they fall into the trap of seeking human approval rather than accomplishing God’s purpose. Some elders may seem to make believers more rooted in the world rather than steadfast in God’s Word.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Moreover, those who serve God sometimes give the impression that their work is exceptionally difficult, achievable only by a select few. This struggle arises when one foot remains in the world while the other is in the Word. True followers of truth are either praised into pride or discouraged to the point that they abandon their calling.

Signs And Wonders

Since many people attempt to serve God while still conforming to worldly ways, they often rely on miracles in their ministries to attract crowds. When Jesus’ disciples feared the storm despite having Him in their boat, He called them people of “little faith.” Their astonishment at His power—saying, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!” (Matthew 8:27)—reveals that they saw Him merely as an extraordinary man rather than recognizing Him as the Son of God. Similarly, today, many pastors and elders mislead believers by encouraging them to depend on miracles to strengthen their faith, deepen their love for God, and draw others to Him.

A miracle is an extraordinary, supernatural event—something beyond human imagination or expectation. But is this the standard by which a believer, a child of God, should measure their faith? The disciples, unaware that the Creator’s Son was with them, marveled at Jesus calming the storm. Yet, for Jesus, this was no great feat; as the Creator, controlling nature was natural to Him.

As God’s children, we should expect great things from Him rather than being fixated on miraculous signs. The greatest miracle is not a supernatural event but the love and grace He has poured out to forgive our sins. Compared to this, everything else—His daily provision, protection, and presence—is not an occasional marvel but a constant reality in our lives. Luke describes the works of Jesus as a daily occurrence, for God was with Him,

You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. – Acts 10:37-38 (NIV)

Likewise, we should allow the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, to carry out the Father’s will—not just occasionally, but consistently. Miracles should become a natural part of our lives, not seen as rare events, but as regular expressions of God’s presence and power! Also we should learn to walk in the light always, setting aside the world and things in it behind.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. – 1 John 1:5-7 (NIV)