Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones, on this beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Besides our normal morning, and afternoon Gospel Sing at Pheasant Pointe, we’re carrying on with a full evening—things to do, places to go, and people to see. In fact, we need to leave again right away.

Blessings on your evening.

Love, Dad/Ray.

You can tell a lot about a person by identifying what sparks their excitement, enthusiasm, and passion—what really turns their gears. For some it may be a game of basketball, climbing a mountain, a fishing trip, viewing their favorite television program, or freedom to just read an intriguing book. There are those who are passionate and consumed with the accumulation of wealth, testing a new machine, or exploring some new place in the world. Then there are those with a bent toward evil, who are excited about pulling off a successful theft, rape, murder, or something else rotten done to other people. Out of a cross-section of society, I wonder how many would fit the description Peter gives here—people who are “eager to do good.”

What are some of the aims and ambitions of a person who is “eager to do good?” The highest beginning point of this, according to Jesus, is to love God completely and passionately (Matthew 22:36-38). Peter puts it like this: “In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord” (1 Peter 3:15). Out from that heart condition flows the best form of motivation for doing life—the Spirit of Christ, influencing one to be truly eager about doing good to others—helping people in their hardships and hurts. James offers this perspective: “Religion (true faith) that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27). Also, consider the disclosure Jesus gives in Matthew 25 concerning the separation of the righteous and the wicked at the end. The Lord commends the righteous for all the good they have done to others. “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:37-40). Think about it.

You can be sure that there is nothing more encouraging and rewarding to a parent than a child who is eager to help and obey. There is nothing more inspiring to a boss than an employee who is eager to do good work and stay busy. There is nothing more stimulating and gratifying to a teacher than a student who is eager to learn and do good schoolwork. And it is easy to comprehend that there is nothing that thrills the heart of our Lord more than followers who are eager to serve and please Him—“eager to do good.”