"Doing Well"?

"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, (he will give) eternal life." (Rom. 2: 7)

It is not uncommon to hear someone say of another - "he is doing well." Generally this is interpreted to mean that the person is financially prospering. In the above words of Paul there is mention of "well doing," or "doing good." But, he does not at all refer to a person doing well financially.

How do Christians patiently continue in well doing? What good things are they enduring to do regularly and daily? What good activities characterize those who persist in well doing?

Surely it involves "doing those things that are pleasing in his sight." (I John 3: 22) Surely it involves daily communication with God, speaking to God in prayer and praise, hearing him speak through his word and Spirit, as well as daily meditation, daily sharing the word of God, daily helping our neighbors and Christian brothers, and such like.

If we are not patiently and perseveringly continuing in such "well doing" then we cannot expect to be given eternal life. Half hearted Christians and hypocrites, lukewarm believers, and such as do not continue in well doing, can only expect wrath and eternal condemnation.

Those who do patiently endure in doing well are not only said to be the ones given eternal life in the day of judgment but also they who "seek for glory and honor and immortality." This is what characterizes them. They are seekers, a kind of treasure hunters. What is that which they seek? Not for the "glory" (doxa) and "honor" that comes from men or the world, but which comes from God. Recall the words of the Lord Jesus - "How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?" (John 5: 44) It is a seeking of approbation and "praise," not "of men but of God" (Rom. 2: 29). It is seeking "immortality" or salvation from death.

Now, notice these parallel verses on "doing well" and persevering in it.

"For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God." (I Peter 2: 20)

"Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." (I Peter 3: 6)

"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts." (II Peter 1: 19)

"Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow." (Isa. 1: 17)

"That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well." (Acts 15: 29)

The world's standard for what it means to be "doing well" is not the same as God's standard.