Devote oursleves to Good Works

 

Titus 3:8

We who go by the name Christian are to devote ourselves to good works, Titus 3:8, and I ask myself, self, what are good works?  How can “good works” be established, who has the say on what is good and what is not so good?  Do we listen to politicians, or preachers, or maybe our family and friends, who can tell you what is a good work?  Most of us have formed some standard of what is a “good work” and yet our culture may be in total disagreement with what you value as good.  There are many examples of our culture trying to change what we see as good, like the killing of a child in a mother’s womb so that the mother will not be inconvenienced, and many in our society see that as a good thing, while others see that as an affront to God.  Some of those who see that as murder have tried to educate the public that it is a sin against God, and by doing have been attacked as evil, mean spirited, and Doctor Jim Dobson was given the title of the number 1 enemy of the abortionist, and was called the names listed above.  For the record, Jim Dobson is one of my hero’s.  

By using the Bible as our guide, will not mean you will not run into strong disagreement from our culture on what is good, but has God spoken to that fact?  The Lord spoke using the voice of the prophet Isaiah Chapter 5, verse 20, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”  That is the society we live in.  It is recorded in Matthew 5:16, these words of Jesus; “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.” 

In my profession I spent a lot of time on the road away from my family, and often stayed in the same hotel many nights.  I was convicted that leaving the room in a mess was a poor testimony to the cleaning people, so I began to do a good work, and leave the room in order.  Now that is not a big thing, but being concerned for someone who’s job it was to clean and put that room back in order, was a big thing, because that was a new mind-set.  I believe the Spirit of God spoke to me about this very small act, and that should warm your heart and mine, knowing how much God cares for each of us. 

I know of few if any outside of the U.S.A. that will ever read this, but we who live in this great nation are still rich, rich in freedom, in opportunity, and in the ability to worship, compared to much of this world.  In light of that 1 Timothy 6:17-18, should give us the directions for doing “good works,” “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.  They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”  As a follow of Christ this is what I believe, we must look to Scripture and ask God to speak to our hearts the “good works” He has for us that day.

Form the Back Porch,

Bob Rice