Every single Christian is called to something and our individual callings may differ. But there are some callings that apply to all those who believe. One of those is the call placed on every Christian to just be a good person.
Simply being a good person is one of the most widespread teachings we see throughout the Bible. When Moses gave the law to the Israelites a large part of it was a call for them to be good people. For instance, they were told to leave crops in the field and food on the vine to provide for the poor amount them or those who happened to be passing through.
Deuteronomy 24:19-21 (ESV)
19 “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over them again. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not strip it afterward. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.
The prophet Isaiah was also used by God to call Jews to be good people. Telling them plainly to learn to do good and take care of those that have no one else’s to care for them. While also making sure that justice is met and others are not oppressed. All things we as Christians today are still called to do.
Isaiah 1:17 (ESV)
17 learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow’s cause.
James 1:27 (ESV)
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
The call to be a good person carry’s well into the New Testament where we receive instruction to love all people. In fact, we are told to do everything in love. Love according to the Bible embodies pretty much all the aspects we would use to describe a good person. So by being called to love, we are being called to be a good person as well.
John 15:12 (ESV)
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV)
14 Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Christians are also called to be calm cool and collected in every circumstance. Listening to what someone else has to say, waiting to speak, and not allowing themselves to rush into getting angry. Even when it comes to dealing with those who do not agree with us we are told to be patient and gentle.
James 1:19 (ESV)
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
2 Timothy 2:24-25 (ESV)
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
Which goes right along with being humble something time and time again every Christian is told to be. Not viewing ourselves as the more important than others or making everything about us.
Philippians 2:3 (ESV)
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Colossians 3:12 (ESV)
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
Ephesians 4:2 (ESV)
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Scripture even leads us to give to all those who ask. Not even expecting or asking for anything in return. Then when it comes to our work the Bible tells us to work as though all we do is for God and not men or a company. Which should cause Christians to be the best workers in every field.
Matthew 5:42 (ESV)
42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Luke 6:35 (ESV)
35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
All in all, you can see that God is calling all those who believe in Him to be a good person. In fact, we as Christians should be the best people anyone could meet. Because of the life the God tells every single one of us to live in His word. A life that is not presented as an option in the Bible but the life God expects His people to live.
In no way are Christians ever called in scripture to be mean spirited, hateful, stingy, judgmental, or anything else that describes a bad person. Even though there are many in our world who live a life like that and attempt to fly the Christian flag.
In reality, Christians are called to be those who care for others, provide for others needs, work hard at everything they do, lead with love and kindness, do their best to always be patient, and try to be the all-around good person that they want others to be to them.
Matthew 7:12 (ESV)
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Being a Christian truly does mean being a good person and that is an active choice. You must decide for yourself to be a good person and fulfill the call of scripture. This doesn’t mean you will always be perfect and never come across as a bad person. But it does mean not walking around as a hateful curmudgeon who never does anything for anyone else and only cares about themself.
Live the lifestyle God is calling you to and just be a God person. A good attitude and kind smile are some of the best evangelism tools we have. By aligning your life with verses like the ones shown in this article you will fulfill the call to be a good person and have a great impact on everyone you meet.
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