Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. . . . Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:2…10)
St Paul tells us Christians that while we are especially to do good to our fellow parishioners and other Christians, we are exhorted to “do good to all.” We are not to grow weary in well-doing, but to help others who are sagging beneath the burdens they carry. “And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:9-10).
Here is some wisdom from the desert fathers to help us understand how to choose the next good and right thing to do:
A brother went to see Abba Poemen and said to him, ‘What ought I to do?’ The old man said to him, ‘Go and join one who says “What do I want?” and you will have peace.’ (Apoth., Poemen 143, p 187)
The brother who came for help was caught in a way of looking at things that was oriented toward action; he believed that whatever his problems, he would solve them by doing something. His Abba, however, could see that, while the brother might be good at action, he was caught in a trap. Until he could choose a goal for himself by learning how to ask ‘what do I want?’ he would not make any progress. (Roberta Bondi, TO LOVE AS GOD LOVES, pp 80-81)
Our spiritual lives are not simply about doing good but mostly about being good. We are not ‘human doings’ but are ‘human beings.’ We are able to consciously choose the good based on the spirituality of our hearts.