What of our good works?

Jesus said in Matt 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Peter basically says the same in 1 Peter 2:12 “having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

So it is evident our life in Christ is to be lived out for others to see and be affected. They are in darkness and need to see what is God’s light.
In other words good works are not common in this world.

John 3:19-20 “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”
Good works show the light to those in the dark, it shows who we serve.

In fact after Paul writes about being saved by grace and not works he states “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10). These works involves God’s plan for us before we were born.

Titus 2:7-8 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”

Titus 2:14 “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”

Believers have good works as the proof of whom lives within and whom they serve. but some do their works  out in the open to be noticed and acknowledged by others. God knows our motivation and will judge accordingly, for it matter what are intentions are as much as what we do.

Titus 3:14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.”

Not only do we maintain good works for the Lord but are told “ let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (Heb 10:24), in other words influence other believers to do the same.

How do we reconcile "good works for the Lord" and the work we do everyday in a business or job to earn money, build a business or build a career?

Col. 3:23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

So whatever your vocation is, if you do it to please the Lord and it is accepted and one day will be rewarded. It is not just your witnessing or praying, but action. However, If you do this at work you need to make sure it does not take away or interfere with what you are doing for your employer. They may or may not allow this but You can always speak to the person later after work. The Lord can use business to further the gospel not just to make money for giving into the Lords work.

Many of the examples in the New Testament of people doing the good works for the Lord are in evangelism but there are others commended that did do a business. So it is not limited to those in ministry or church work. Sometimes we do not recognize a good work for the Lord in these vocations. Paul made tents to make money so he would not put a burden on the church, but the tents were not his focus, his ministry was the center.

Matt 26:7-12 “a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste? "For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor." But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. "For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. "For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.”

Acts 9:36-39 At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. (V.39 the widows showed Peter the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.) So ones work of their hands can certainly be considered a good work. For example a surgeon saving ones life can certainly be a good work, especially if they are a believer and did it unto the Lord.

 

      

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