Let Us “Do No Harm”
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles, uncategorizedOne of the basic principles taught to young medical students is the idea of “Do No Harm.” Interns are told:
“There may be patients whose problems are beyond your ability to help. Your diagnosis may be based on limited knowledge or understanding. Your treatment may do damage rather than doing good. Be careful about your procedures and your prescriptions. Do good if you can, and above all, do no harm.”
How fitting then is this idea of “do no harm” for the Christian. If we follow our Lord’s example, we’ll be found “doing good” (Acts 10:38).
Occasionally, times may come when we have done our best and we cannot help a situation because of things that lie beyond our control. At times, Jesus found Himself in such situations (Matthew 23:37).
The apostle Paul promoted the idea of “do no harm” when he stated:
“Do all things without murmuring and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Philippians 2:14-16).
There’s no question that our Lord loves those who “do no harm,” when He states:
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16).
Let us thus strive to “do no harm” to others along life’s way, doing all the good we possibly can (Acts 10:38; Romans 12:17-21; cf. Luke 10:25-37; 1 Samuel 24:16-19).