10 Ways We Can Apply 'Don't Neglect to Do Good And to Share' Today

Contributing Writer

Updated August 13, 2024

“Do not neglect to do good and to share with others” is a common theme in many worldviews. Even many atheists say we should be nice to people. But if we complete the sentence as it appears in the Bible, the full statement ends with: “. . . for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” This is one of several concluding exhortations in a letter written to Jewish converts to Christianity. What makes it so important for the Bible to emphasize this point?

Where Does the Bible Say “Do Not Neglect to Do Good And to Share”?

We’ve already identified “And do not forget to do good and share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” with Hebrews 13:16. However, this verse needs to be understood with the few verses before it to grasp the full extent of what the writer was trying to teach–especially about doing things sacrificially. First, he says not to be carried away by strange teachings, as if they had a certain power (like emphasizing the importance of eating certain ceremonial foods). The writer then implied in verses 11-14 that it was time for the readers to give up all Jewish law that was in opposition to God’s gift of grace through the shed blood of Jesus.

Just before verse 16, we read, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name” (Hebrews 13:15). We are to keep God first in mind and continually give Him the honor and glory due His name. If we are people of God, we will “not forget to do good and share with others,” which God also knows is a sacrifice that differentiates His people from those who don’t believe. When his children perform such acts, he is “well pleased.”

Who Wrote The Book of Hebrews?

The entire letter addresses readers who were tempted to revert to Judaism or to change the gospel to make it more “Jewish.” There are warnings against comparing the temple priests (and its high priest) to Jesus, about forgetting that Christ’s sacrifice was once and for all. The famous “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11 lists patriarchs and others that Jewish readers would have been familiar with and who were commended for their faith. But none had yet to receive what God had planned for His people by sending His only begotten Son into the world. The writer believed his readers needed reassurance and a reminder of what was true in Christ. For this reason, the letter’s main theme is Christ’s absolute supremacy and sufficiency as our savior, redeemer, and mediator.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia notes several different hypotheses about who wrote Hebrews. The three main arguments are that it was written by Paul, Barnabas, or an unknown writer known to the readers (possibly to whatever city the letter was sent to). It had to be a Christian and an expert in Judaism. Scholars believe it was written before the Romans sacked Jerusalem in 70 AD because it doesn’t mention the temple’s destruction.

What Are Some Biblical Examples of Doing Good and Sharing?

Both the writer behind Hebrews and his audience would have been familiar with sharing and doing good deeds. The writer taught concepts clearly outlined in the Mosaic Law, which many Old Testament figures practiced when God told them to care for others (e.g., Elijah and the widow).

In the New Testament, we have so many examples of doing good and sharing, but two particularly stand out:

Jesus tells of the parable of the Good Samaritan, who helped save an attacked person, though he didn’t “have to” because the man was of another faith.

Second was an ultimate object lesson for the disciples and followers when Jesus blessed five loaves and two fish, making enough for more than 5,000 people who had come to hear him preach (Matthew 14:13-21).

Then, the greatest example of all is Jesus laying down his life so that those who believe will be set free from the law of sin and death. Jesus even said that there was no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. While we may never be called to do that, God expects us to always look for ways to serve others to honor Him.

Why Did the Writer to the Hebrews Say Not to Neglect Doing Good and Sharing?

Candice Lucey observes in her article on Hebrews 13:16 that “Rather than say ‘do good,’ the writer phrases his instruction in such a way as to infer that many of his readers were guilty of deliberately choosing not to do good when they could.” As many Old and New Testament verses demonstrate, it’s not an option to help others. Leviticus 19:18 says, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” Hundreds of years later, Jesus was asked in Matthew 22:37-39 what the most important commandment was. He emphasized loving God wholeheartedly and loving your neighbor as yourself. Both require us to make sacrifices and “God is pleased with such sacrifices.”

Matthew Henry goes further to say, “not contenting ourselves to offer the sacrifice of our lips, mere words, but the sacrifice of good deeds . . . and with such sacrifices as these, adoration and alms thus offered up, God is well pleased; he will accept the offering with pleasure, and will accept and bless the offers through Christ.”

How Can We Do Good and Share to Please God?

First, this is not a call to only do good to earn “salvation points” with God—that is, works theology. Living out our faith in Jesus by becoming more like Him in our words and actions is a command. And as James 2:17 says, “Faith without works is dead.” Let’s be ambassadors for our faith and imitate Christ so that the world will give all glory to God.

How Can We Do Good and Share Today?

There are many ways we can start imitating Christ, living out Hebrews’ instructions to do good and care for others. Here are 10 simple ways we can start living out these ideas today:

Sacrifice money for people we know. Most of us know that the economy has been hard on everyone post-covid. But there is a family you know that is especially affected, and your monetary help could make a huge difference.
Sacrifice money for people we don’t know. You may encounter people whose backstory you don’t know, but it’s obvious by how they look or what they say that they are in dire straits. I’ve always believed that it’s my job to respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting in situations like this, not to judge how the money will be spent.
Sacrifice time for people in need. Many non-profit organizations are always looking for volunteers to help others.
Sacrifice skills for those who need specialized assistance. Do you have special skills or tools that can bless others?
Sacrifice what we own for others. Unfortunately, there are too many opportunities to give what we have to help in emergencies like fires, floods, storms, etc.
Do good to strangers. For instance, can you cut the lawn for an elderly couple in your neighborhood?
Do good to your church. Every church I’ve been to needs people to help disciple children and youth. Can you help out in Sunday School?
Do good to your community. Why not gather with other family or church members to undertake an activity that will benefit your community? Maybe an area clean-up or building/repairing a playground for disabled children?
Do good to the next generation (discipleship). In addition to helping with youth groups, you could work with others to find unique ways to help young people grow in their faith.
Do good to those who don’t know Jesus. Can you create a seeker-friendly event for non-believers, engage with people at work, or invite neighbors over for dinner and begin to develop a relationship that the Holy Spirit can work through to lead this person to Christ?

If we ask, the Holy Spirit will give us eyes to see where there is need and how we can glorify God by helping to meet those needs.

Mary Oelerich-Meyer is a Chicago-area freelance writer and copy editor who prayed for years for a way to write about and for the Lord. She spent 20 years writing for area healthcare organizations, interviewing doctors and clinical professionals and writing more than 1,500 articles in addition to marketing collateral materials. Important work, but not what she felt called to do. She is grateful for any opportunity to share the Lord in her writing and editing, believing that life is too short to write about anything else. Previously she served as Marketing Communications Director for a large healthcare system. She holds a B.A. in International Business and Marketing from Cornell College (the original Cornell!) When not researching or writing, she loves to spend time with her writer daughter, granddaughter, rescue doggie and husband (not always in that order).

This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy-to-read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. We hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in your life today.