In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.
Summary: Paul’s instructions regarding good deeds pair nicely with his prior instructions about sins going ahead or trailing.
Are good deeds obvious? Maybe to you and me, but not to everyone. Consider these words written by Paul to the church at Corinth:
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
The foolish and the wise see things differently. The foolish might scoff at a good deed or not even notice. The foolish have other priorities.
The wise, on the other hand, recognize that God is supreme. The wise understand the importance of loving their neighbors (Matthew 22:39). The wise recognize a good deed because doing good is what their hearts are tuned to.
But even the wise cannot see what is hidden.
Remember Jesus’ instructions on giving? He says, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:3-4).
People who follow this advice are careful not to advertise what they are doing.
But Paul says, “good deeds are obvious” to someone like Timothy, and what is not obvious “cannot remain hidden forever.”
This is true.
People talk. Good news gets around, just like bad. Maybe good news doesn’t travel as fast or as far as bad news, but it does travel. Eventually, even the pastor of the church hears what is going on.
Coupling this advice with Paul’s words about people’s sins makes perfect sense. In a word, be patient. Examine what you know about a person when considering them for leadership in the church. Then, take some time and wait. Examine what you learn after all the talking is done. What do the man’s actions tell you?
Application: Be patient when gathering information for a decision.
Food for Thought: What clues do you look for in a person when you suspect they are doing good deeds?
Your question reminded me of a humerus video I watched once where a wife tells her husband that he needs to help out more with the household laundry, and his reply is “Honey, don’t worry, we have a magic laundry basket, see, you put the clothes in and in a few days they just show up clean and folded on the table beside it.”
The clues I usually see are:
Needs are being met quietly, but the person (or persons) are always around and busy.
That person (or persons) are also cheerful and are usually thanking other people for what they do.
They don’t expect help but also don’t refuse to share the work if asked.
When someone says thank you to them, they accept it humbly, and continue on naturally, neither refuting the thank-you or taking pause to linger on it.
In piecing all these together, it is clear that they are working or doing unto the Lord.
Thank you, Chris!
I love the “magic laundry basket” illustration. Good deeds are easy to take for granted, and important to acknowledge — not just with a ‘thank you,’ but by becoming another ‘good deed doer’ who is helping to carry the load.
What clues do you look for in a person when you suspect they are doing good deeds?
I have over the years been on the giving and receiving end of kind jesters, and help from others in my church. I have never known the source of those giving and prefer it this way. I find it helps me to hold everyone in high opinion rather than any single person or group of people.
Mathew 6:1, Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Matthew 6:3, But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
Ron,
I love this insight about giving and receiving. When humans stay in the background, the Body of Christ becomes more visible.
Thank you!!