Furious Chapter 34 Devotional

Do Good

Years ago, I used to struggle with knowing who to give to. I’d see a man holding a cardboard sign at the side of the road and feel that familiar tension. Should I give him something? He looks strong enough to work. What if he’s an addict? What if he uses the money to buy a bottle of booze?

I remembered a news story claiming some panhandlers made more than minimum wage. I’d heard every reason not to give—and it left me with what I can only describe as generosity constipation. I wanted to help, but I was all backed up with doubts and justifications. Then one day, I felt the gentle but unmistakable rebuke of the Holy Spirit.

Aren’t you trusting Me to meet your needs?
Haven’t I been generous to you—again and again?
Don’t you waste money sometimes?
And yet I keep blessing you.

That was the moment it clicked: My generosity to others isn’t just about them—it’s a way of saying “thank You” to God. It’s an act of worship. A response to grace. A declaration of trust.

From that day on, I stopped evaluating people like a spiritual accountant. I stopped weighing their visible “worthiness” and started asking a different question: Do I have the opportunity to do good right now? If the answer was yes, I wanted to be ready to act.

Proverbs 3:28 says, “Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’—when you already have it with you.”

So I started keeping cash in my car—small bills, just in case. Not because it would change someone’s life. But because it was a chance to reflect God’s kindness. To do good when I could. No strings attached.

Paul says it plainly in Galatians 6:10: “Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” That doesn’t mean we enable addiction or throw money around without thought. But it does mean we adopt a posture of readiness. A heart that leans toward “yes” when generosity knocks. We don’t need to judge or justify—we just do good. Not because people are always good. But because God is.

So whether it’s a friend in need, a struggling single parent, a homeless man on the corner, or a member of your church who’s going through a hard season—don’t overthink it.

Do good. Not grudgingly. Not calculating. Not later. Now. Joyfully. As unto the Lord.

🔥 Reflection

Have you ever hesitated to help someone out of fear they might not “deserve” it? What would it look like to shift your focus away from their behavior and onto God’s generosity? Are there people God has placed in your life right now that you have the opportunity to bless?

🙏 Prayer

Father, thank You for the endless generosity You’ve shown me. Forgive me for the times I’ve held back, second-guessed, or hardened my heart. Help me to see opportunities to do good—and to say yes. Make me generous, like You. Amen.

📣 Call-to-Action

Take a simple, tangible step this week: set aside a few dollars, a gift card, a small bag of essentials—something ready to give when the opportunity arises. Don’t worry about outcomes. Just be prepared to reflect God’s goodness whenever you can.