Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

1 Thessalonians 5:15

Don’t do wrong things, but do good things.

Is this as obvious as it sounds on the surface? Maybe not. Prohibitions of harm are understandably common, but is doing good actually a given?

I would say no, especially when it comes to the last four words in that verse. “And for everyone else.” Most people would put a footnote on that sentence with a list of exceptions, but Paul doesn’t let the church in Thessaloniki off the hook that easily.

Doing good for everyone is our call and mission, even when we would rather not.

Ethan Kirl