A great and underlying principle that runs throughout the Bible is that of seeking good for one’s neighbour. Paul said, “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others (1 Corinthians 10:24). That which is condemned in Paul’s admonition to the Corinthian church is that of which most people are guilty. Our society encourages people to seek their own benefit, and when they do, they are praised for it. This is the normal tendency in our world. It is easy to overlook the interests of others while promoting one’s own good.
The whole message of the Bible is that every person is to be a responsible person for the wellbeing of others. We need to realise that when we seek the good of our neighbour we are seeking our own good. That is why we celebrate ‘Harvest Festival’ today, thanking God as Giver of all life and the fruits of the earth. We praise and thank Him in our daily bread and gladly share a small portion of it with others. Because He is God of the poor and hungry, God of the sowing of seed and the harvest.
