Greg Chandler
03/24/14
A grandmother’s attic is an interesting place. Several years ago, while rummaging through my own grandmother’s attic, I came across a box of lye soap which she had made many years before. This soap had been made for one purpose – to be put to work! As the years passed and as my grandmother’s health deteriorated, the soap was boxed up and put away. What was once designed for a purpose now simply sits as a relic in my home, never to carry out the plans of its maker.
Christians are designed for a purpose. The Apostle Paul stated, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). These good works help to demonstrate to others the type of life one should live for God. This idea is witnessed in Paul’s admonition to Titus: “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works” (Titus 2:7a). These good works always seek the betterment of others, such as the supplying of physical provisions to those in need. Upon her death, the godly woman Dorcas was remembered for the good that she had done for others (Acts 9:36). Paul’s description of godly widows in I Timothy 5:9-10 places an emphasis on the good deeds they had performed in their lives. God clearly states that failure to perform such good deeds is straying from the purpose for which Christians are designed: “But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?” (I John 3:17).
These good works also serve a much grander purpose than the help they provide for others. Through them, God is glorified. Concerning this, Jesus stated, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Good works are never performed for the glory of the worker. It is never for the praise of men or selfish gain that they are done. It is strictly to allow others to see God working through the worker. It is for this reason alone that the worker performs these good deeds and seeks to encourage others to do the same. The writer of Hebrews made this point to his readers by stating, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
Christians must be busy in doing good and never allow detriments to stand in the way. God warns that physical laziness is one of these detriments: “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys” (Proverbs 18:9). Destruction awaits the one who squanders the abilities and opportunities provided by the Lord. Another danger is allowing worldly pursuits to play too large of a role in life. This “moonlighting” on the Lord serves to distract from the most essential work a Christian is given. Christ warned of this in His parable of the soils. Concerning the thorny ground, He stated, “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). Cynicism can also destroy a good working environment. Allowing one’s attention to always focus on the negatives concerning fellow-Christians or the work in which they are engaged will lead to failure in doing good for the Lord. If any of these characteristics are allowed to permeate the life of the Christian, the work expected from the Lord will go undone.
For every faithful child of God, there should be a strong desire to do as much good as possible in this life. This means ridding life of those things that distract and fully focusing on glorifying God through good works. May the words spoken to the Philippians be spoken concerning all who seek to please the Lord in this way: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). Let no one ever become an unused relic of a bygone era, but rather a faithful and active child of the Lord who created His children for good works.