Doing the Most Good

Perhaps you have seen or heard The Salvation Army's motto of sorts "Doing the Most Good". At first glance it could seem like a statement of arrogance or pride, but we assure you that is not the case. It is a promise to those we serve. It is a reassurance to those who support us. It is a commitment between God and The Salvation Army. Evangeline Booth, daughter of the Founder, coined this phrase when she said "There is no reward equal to that of doing the most good to the most people in the most need."

That is the commitment of The Salvation Army to do the most good wherever we can. Its rarely easy or convenient to make good on this promise, but we knew it wouldn't be when we made it. The Salvation Army makes this promise, this commitment, to honor Jesus with our hearts and minds.

In the story of the "Good Samaritan" found in the book of Luke a smart man who knew the scriptures asked Jesus "What must I do to inherit eternal life?". Jesus asked the man to answer his own question with how he understood the scriptures to address that question. The man replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and all your mind, and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " Jesus affirmed this answer by saying "You have answered correctly" and "Do this and you will live." (Luke 10:25-28)

Loving God with all your might and truly treating others as you would want to be treated is often a tall order. It takes commitment and love. The Salvation Army's commitment to upholding the promise to do the most good extends from Jesus' affirmation to love God with everything we have and to treat our neighbors with love and respect. Our neighbors today are every man, woman, and child suffering in need in our community. It is for those neighbors and Jesus that The Salvation Army promises to do the most good.

We covet your prayers and support while we are "Doing the Most Good" and we challenge you to make that promise in your own life to do the most good with your time, talents, and resources for the glory of God.

God Bless You.