Have I Done Any Good?

I was doing a personal inventory of myself after reading a few blog articles this morning. The idea struck me as I commented to some of these ponderous philosophical discussions, more of a question as to my worth, have I done any good by entering into this discussion, will my comment make even one person consider or reconsider the path upon which to proceed? It dawned on me that the words of a hymn were entering into my thoughts, one that I have heard many times. Curiously, as a side, this morning I’ve been listening to Wagner’s music where he attempts to capture the essence of good’s triumph over evil and the constant battle within each of us.

Hymns 223, Have I Done Any Good?

1. Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

[Chorus]
Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

2. There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”
But go and do something today.
’Tis noble of man to work and to give;
Love’s labor has merit alone.
Only he who does something helps others to live.
To God each good work will be known.

Text and music: Will L. Thompson, 1847–1909, alt.

In our hymn book there are references to scripture which relate to the hymn. Here are the two listed for “Have I done any good?”

James 1:22, 27 reads, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves”

Alma 9:28 reads, “Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the time is at hand that all men shall reap a reward of their works, according to that which they have been—if they have been righteous they shall reap the salvation of their souls, according to the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ; and if they have been evil they shall reap the damnation of their souls, according to the power and captivation of the devil.”

So, I ask again, have I done any good? Are my comments, my attempts to persuade, are these to be considered good works or are they feeble rationalizations for my lack of action? I would have to say that carefully chosen words require quite a bit of work and so my thoughts, those that are shared as opposed to those which I keep to myself, are indeed works and are therefore worthy of the time and effort required for them to be properly articulated.