Go Forth and Do Good

(Proverbs 17:13 KJV)  Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

This verse is a variation on a theme that God keeps trying to get across to us.  Are you old enough to remember the song “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love”?  Christians are supposed to be different.  Actually, since this is in the Old Testament, Jews are also expected to be different.  Our guiding principle in relationships is love.  In the Old Testament that is chesed, loving kindness.  In the New it is agape love. 

While there is a bit of assurance in this that when people do us wrong there will be payback, in this location it can serve as a reminder that we need to be careful not to take advantage of people who do us “good” (2899b).  We have looked at other verses that remind us that we are to love our enemies and not rejoice in their tragedy.  This reminds us to reward good with good.  There is no qualification on whom is doing the good.

So?  Go forth and do good, to everybody.  Do double good to those who are good to you.