Do Good To the Good - Proverbs 2-3

 Proverbs 3:27

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, 

when it is in your power to do it."

You see someone do something nice for someone else, you think, “That was nice,” and go on your way. Right or wrong? According to this proverb we are to do good to them for doing good to others. This proverb is the initial “pass-it-on” philosophy. When we see others doing something right and we have the “power to act” upon it, we are to do so. The next time you have the chance to give praise, or reward to someone who does good, do it. We are not to withhold praise to him who has it coming. To do so is to disobey the Holy Scriptures. Do you see someone in church doing something good—give them a kind word. Do you see someone being sacrificial with their life for others—be sacrificial yourself for them. Don’t withhold the honor when you have it.  In our world today we are very much ignorant of the truth found in this passage.  We spend much of our time trying to catch others do something bad.  And, that is not hard to do.  People do a lot bad.   However, to wait and find someone doing right and honoring them for it, is a Spirit led skill-set.   When we have power in our hands to do good and honor those who do good, we are to do so. 

Some of the closing letters in the New Testament are a great example of Solomon’s above proverb.  The below passage is a long passage to just read and, for many, contains too many unrecognizable names.  It is a little like reading the phone book.  Yet, notice that in closing the greatest theological book ever written, Paul makes Solomon’s proverb real:

Romans 16:3-16 (ESV)

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

Paul had power to give them honor that would be read for centuries and did.   If you have power to honor others, do so.