Do All The Good You Can

Do All The Good You Can

Always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. – 1 Thessalonians 5:15

1 Thess 5:11-15

Therefore, encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men.

See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men.

The Life and Legacy of Catherine McAuley

Catherine McAuley was born on September 29, 1778, near Dublin, Ireland, and was an Irish Catholic laywoman. Dublin in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries was marked by widespread poverty, discrimination against Irish Catholics, and social upheaval. Her father, a successful businessman, dedicated his life to helping the poor, and Catherine spent her early years witnessing his selfless acts of kindness and mercy. Watching her father live out practical, tender mercy deeply influenced her, instilling values of compassion and service.

These early experiences shaped her character, fostering a deep empathy and a lifelong commitment to helping those in need. This legacy of compassion laid the groundwork for her mission to make a meaningful difference in the world. She embraced the maxim, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

Sadly, her father died in 1783 when she was about five, plunging the family into financial hardship. When she was 20, her mother died, leaving her an orphan. After her parents’ death, Catherine went to live with Protestant relatives, the Armstrongs. This period of her life was marked by loss and trials that tested her faith. Yet, she responded with grace, kindness, and an unshakable trust in God. These challenges deepened her spiritual life, as she discovered anew “Peace in the Cross, joy in suffering, prayer in action, and action in prayer,” as described by her biographer, Sister Angela Bolster.

At 25 years old, Catherine was invited to live with the Callaghans, a wealthy, childless Quaker couple. She became their devoted companion and caregiver, caring for their needs with love and dedication. When they passed away, the Callaghans left most of their estate to Catherine. She used this inheritance selflessly to establish the House of Mercy, an organization that provided shelter, education, and care for impoverished women and girls. This effort reflected her unwavering dedication to helping the marginalized and addressing the needs of the vulnerable.

Catherine’s wisdom and teachings still resonate across generations. One of her most treasured sayings sums up her practical and forward-thinking approach: “The simplest and most practical lesson I know is to resolve to be good today, but better tomorrow.” This guiding principle sustained her throughout her life and continues to inspire many.

In 1831, Catherine founded the Sisters of Mercy, ensuring her mission of service and compassion would live on. She was known for her deep prayer life, sense of humor, and gentle compassion. Her resilience, faith, and mercy motivated countless others to follow her path of selfless service.

A Call to Do Good

The apostle Paul is quite explicit in 1 Thessalonians 5:15: “See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.”

When others wrong us, our instinct is often to retaliate and seek revenge to restore a sense of justice. This desire to repay harm with harm may seem justified, especially if we fear that the offender might escape consequences. However, this response runs counter to the high standard of forgiveness that the Father has set for us.

In His infinite mercy, God decided not to hold our sins against us. Instead of seeking revenge, He offers us forgiveness and grace, providing redemption through His love.

As children of the King, we are called to reflect His character by rejecting the urge for revenge and instead doing good, even when we are wronged. In Romans 12:17, the apostle Paul sets an incredibly high standard: “Never pay back evil with more evil.”

Judgment Belongs to God

Paul doesn’t merely present the standard; he also explains the reasoning behind it. Ultimately, the responsibility for judgment and punishment rests solely with God, the supreme lawgiver and highest authority in the universe. It is not up to us to decide what someone deserves for their actions, or to determine whether they should be punished or shown mercy. When we try to do so in our anger, we are usurping the Father’s right to administer justice.

The Greek word translated as “pay back” or “repay” is apodidomi, which means to “recompense, render, reward, or punish based on what we believe someone deserves.” Paul firmly advises the children of the King to resist the temptation to repay wrongs with more wrongs. This principle mirrors the golden rule in reverse: instead of treating others the way we want to be treated. We are called to rise above and respond with patience, kindness, mercy, and forgiveness, regardless of how we’ve been treated.

Reprogramming Our Natural Instincts

Instead of reacting impulsively to wrongs, we must reprogram our natural tendency to seek revenge. As followers of Christ, we are called to embody patience and forgiveness, choosing to do good even when wronged. This transformation requires a conscious effort to align our thoughts and actions with God’s will and to trust Him as the ultimate judge.

The Lord Jesus Christ teaches a powerful lesson about humility and true greatness in Mark 9:35: “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.”

In simple terms, Lord Jesus Christ explains that to be truly great or important, one must put others first and assume the role of a servant. Instead of seeking power, recognition, or control over others, greatness in God’s eyes comes from serving and caring for others selflessly.

REFLECT & PRAY

We should follow the Father’s example, who shows us mercy and offers grace. It’s about responding with humility and love rather than succumbing to offended pride or a desire for power and control.

Father, lead me and empower me to live as the Lord Jesus Christ lived. Encourage me to do good and not seek revenge.

INSIGHT

A Shift Toward Kindness and Forgiveness

Paul shifts from addressing negative behaviors to highlighting positive virtues, aiming to foster kindness and forgiveness as the natural, instinctive responses of every child of the King. He calls for the complete removal of retaliation and revenge from both our language and way of life, urging us to demonstrate grace and compassion in our actions.

1 Thessalonians 5:15, Paul writes, “Always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”

Paul urges children of the King to “always seek after that which is good.” The Greek word translated as “seek” or “try” is dioko, a powerful verb that, at its core, conveys the idea of “pursuing, chasing, or running after something with intensity and purpose.

Here, it evokes a picture of a footrace, where we are sprinting full speed toward acts of goodness. This word implies “an intense, relentless effort to choose good over evil.”

Figuratively, dioko is often used “to describe the pursuit of goals, ideals, or virtues with diligence and determination.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:15, dioko conveys the idea of “actively and persistently striving toward a goal.” It implies “an intentional, determined effort to pursue goodness and kindness, regardless of circumstances.”

Pursuing spiritual goals is not a one-time effort but a continuous, ongoing commitment. It is an “always-on” endeavor, requiring us to strive for what is good not only within the community of faith but also toward everyone else. Our primary responsibility is to care for and uplift fellow children of the King, but this kindness is to extend outward to all people.

The Challenge of Responding with Kindness

Responding with kindness and love, particularly in the face of wrongdoing, is far from a natural human reaction. It requires deliberate effort, unwavering commitment, and steadfast resolve. This kind of response defies our instincts and requires a profound transformation that only God can accomplish within us.

1 Thessalonians 5:23: “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.”

Paul emphasizes that this transformation can only happen through the work of the Father. God must fully sanctify us, making us holy in every part of our being: spirit, soul, and body. This divine power allows us to go beyond the ordinary and function on a higher level, reflecting God’s character in our actions.

Empowered to Pursue Goodness

The consistent pursuit of goodness and the ability to respond with love, even when faced with wrongdoing, are not things we can accomplish alone. They require the intervention of the God of peace, who works within us to refine and sanctify us. Through His power, we are equipped to reject retaliation, embrace kindness, and live as genuine reflections of His grace and mercy.

This ongoing transformation empowers us to fulfill our calling as children of the King, always striving to do good to one another and to all people.

Catherine McAuley’s life stands as a powerful example of mercy, compassion, and steadfast faith. Her legacy reminds us of the importance of rejecting retaliation and embracing a life of service, forgiveness, and goodness, following Christ’s example.

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© Dr. H 2026