“Don’t be worried on account of the wicked…trust in the LORD and do good”  (Psalm 37:1 & 3).

     No good deed goes unpunished. Maybe. Maybe not.

     Taylor Ostergaard and Linsey Zellitti wanted to do something nice for their neighbors. Late in the evening, they walked from house to house delivering the cookies they had baked. At 10:30 p.m., they pounded on the door of a woman who experienced a panic attack because of the girl’s late-night visit.

     Following a trip to the emergency room the next day, the woman sued the girls and won. The judge awarded the plaintiff $900 to cover her medical expenses. The woman defended her actions by claiming the girls should not have been roaming the streets late at night and frightening people.

     The story subsequently was published in the Denver Post. Hundreds of readers were incensed that the girls had been punished for their attempts to bless the people in their neighborhood. A college fund was established by donors to reward the girls for their good-faith gesture. Contributors also were given the option of giving to the “Never Forgotten” Scholarship Fund for Columbine High School Students.

     The Scripture above advises the community of faith not to be discouraged when facing backlash for doing a good deed. Instead, we are encouraged to place our trust in the God who promises to work for the good of those who love Him and are called to pursue His purposes (see also Romans 8:28). To be certain, we have been granted a guarantee that goodness eventually will win out.

     Goodness will win out even when the special gift you give to a loved one goes unappreciated. Goodness will win out though the driver behind you honks in anger because you allowed a vehicle in front of you to merge into traffic. Goodness will win out though a few people criticize you for making a tough decision that benefits the entire organization.

     To the Taylors and Linseys of the world, do not be dismayed. Haters will hate. Such is their nature. Your good deeds may not always go unpunished. Know, however, the good things you do never will go unnoticed or for that matter unappreciated.

Theme: Doing good in spite of criticism.

Keywords: Good deeds, criticism, trust