I’m writing this on a beautiful farm in the Gobabis district. It’s just after 3 am and I’m wide awake. Probably last night’s meat keeping me up. Hereabouts they only eat meat. For veggies, they braai chicken, and for salad, pork, but you won’t find these two on too many menus.

A good friend invited me to a hunting trip. He came to visit one day and simply said that I had to come with him to his brother’s farm. We’re going hunting and I can shoot an eland.

I’m not allowed to do anything on this trip. I’m not allowed to contribute to the petrol money. I’m not allowed to contribute to food and drinks. I haven’t even opened any of the gates on the farm! I feel like a king!

And I feel so small that someone would spoil me like this. I can’t actually believe it.

I’m learning such a lot from my friend. He can’t stop himself. He is looking for opportunities to do good deeds all the time. Big things and small things. Can I get you a chair? Can I get you something to drink? Have you eaten enough? What do you need? He cannot stop himself from doing kind things.

Even when we’re hunting, he stays behind to deal with the meat.

I can find no greater example of someone with a passion for worthy doings. Yes, I know he is not an angel. Yes, he has stumbled over the boundaries of life a few times, but he has allowed the Lord to shape and teach him. He has allowed himself to be changed so that now he looks for opportunities to do good deeds everywhere he goes.

My friend is a living example of Paul’s instruction: ¹³Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty. He cannot stop himself. Everywhere he goes people are changed. Go and talk to the big team of people who work for him. Each and every one of them has a story about how my friend had assisted them in difficult times in their lives.

People are changed because my friend is Jesus’ hands and feet and does well-meaning deeds wherever he goes.

And you, do you do it too? Do you look everywhere for opportunities to do worthy things like my friend? Can you not stop yourself from giving yourself to others? If not, you’ll have to work on this, because it is not optional for us as Christians, but a command.

Do kind things. Don’t stop looking for places where you can do good. And no, don’t redeem your calling and responsibility by giving the guy at the traffic lights a few rand. You’re not actually helping him. On the contrary, you’re simply helping him to return tomorrow, because people are paying him to do so.

Let’s start this day and, like my friend, look everywhere for opportunities to do something worthy. Let’s start right here with our partner, children and friends. Then at work. Maybe there’s a colleague who needs a good deed. And let’s live our command everywhere by being Jesus’ hands and feet for others.

Scripture

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Reflection

Do you do enough kind deeds for others?

What does your calling look like?

Where can you do something worthy?

Prayer

Father, I don’t want to get tired of doing kind deeds. I realise it is an instruction and my calling. Please help me remember and live it. I want people to see You in my good works. I ask this in the wonderful Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.