By Doing Good

Read: Romans 12

Conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:21

IN WORD

It may sound like a line from idealistic literature or a kids’ movie, but it’s nevertheless a radical, countercultural agenda. We don’t just attempt to conquer evil. We conquer it—by doing good. That means that whatever the prevailing culture of the world throws at us, the way to overcome it is not by lowering ourselves to the same set of standards. We enter into combat with entirely different weapons. Like a gladiator who brings a handshake rather than a sword into the arena, we appear to be headed for disaster. But God has a twist woven throughout this story. He defines “winning” entirely differently than most of the combatants think. The goal isn’t to achieve your goal. It’s to live with His character.

So all of those people who attempt to get love, wealth, happiness, accomplishments, status, positions, and pleasure in ways that do not reflect God’s character may appear to be winning the battle, but they are actually losing it miserably. And those who seem to fall short of success but maintain the character of God are really more successful than everyone else. That’s why Scripture can tell us to conquer evil by doing good. Reflecting the character of God is a victory in itself; and it further fuels a cultural revolution that will draw others into His goodness. Many will never come, keeping their eyes focused on a prize that isn’t really a prize. But some will, realizing that it’s better to walk with integrity in another realm than to dominate this one. Either way, God is honored. His goodness is displayed for others to see.

IN DEED

Keep doing good, no matter how difficult or unrewarding it seems. God has promised that those who persist in goodness will reap its rewards. We always bear fruit according to the kind of seeds we plant—eventually. Suffering from evil is no defeat. Returning evil for evil is. Overcoming it . . . well, that’s a radical agenda. And we’re promised that it will be a successful one.

ADDITIONAL READING: Galatians 6:7-10

The greatest pleasure I know is to do a good action by stealth and to have it found out by accident.

CHARLES LAMB