Zealous for Good Works

Martin Luther once said, “God does not need your good works, your neighbor does.” We in the church often find ourselves thinking we can “serve God” and feeling guilty when we are not “serving God.” But God is not served by his creatures (Acts 17:25), he serves his creatures by his power, wisdom and goodness so that they may be his instruments of his works for his glory in the earth.

In Paul’s letter to the pastor Titus he insists that he teach the people in the church to “be ready for every good work.” (Titus 3:1). Yet this command is couched in the truth that they have been served by God in his salvation for them in Christ, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life”.(3:4-7). The work of God in the salvation of his children is an undeniable work of sovereign mercy to recreate for himself a people for his own glory. Therefore Paul can repeat the command that began this section, “The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.” (3:8). God serves his church with the working of his salvation that he may serve others through the good works of his church. As Paul says elsewhere, “For we are his (God’s) workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works.” (Eph.2:10). Therefore the works that the church is called to is the work that flows out of recreated vessels who live by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ so that our neighbors receive the goodness and lovingkindness of God through his church. This truth enabled the apostle Paul to say, “I worked harder than any of them, thought it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (1Cor.15:9). And this truth enables us to “serve in the strength that God supplies in order that in everything God may be glorified in Jesus Christ.“ (1Pe.4:11).

If we are to be devoted to good works then we must first be devoted to him in worship through whom we continually receive grace to do those works he gives us to those whom he has called us. We must continually exalt him as worthy of the whole of our lives with a right apprehension of who he is and a right heart response to that revealed knowledge. It is from this informed loving heart that his works will be done for his glory. It will be the reception of his grace in union with Christ through the Spirit that will enable us more and more to put sin to death and live in the paths of righteousness fulfilling the law of love. Therefore, if God will be glorified in the works of his church then his church must be dependent upon his means of communicating grace. He has ordained the preaching of his Word, the faithful observance of his sacraments and the continual care of his body as the marks of his church. And it is in these works of God toward his church that his church will be marked as his maturing body of Christ laying down their lives in service. However, we must also be devoted to those whom the works of God are directed.

When we love God out of a correct apprehension of his revealed glory in Christ then we will rightly love those who are near. This begins among those who are in his church. As the apostle says, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Gal.6:10). We must do the good works of God to all but begin within God’s church. Do you know those in the church, do you know their needs, their testimonies, their struggles, their confessions? Do you know whose Shepherding Group you are a part of and those who are in your group? The leadership of the church has organized the body at RPC around Shepherding Groups so that we may carry out our callings as Elders and Deacons faithfully, but also that the body of Christ may minister to one another. But God does not call us only to do good works toward those in the church.

We are called to love our neighbors. Jesus identified our neighbors as those who are near and possibly those who we may have difficulties with (Lk.10:25-37). Are you zealous for letting your neighbors see your good works so that your Father in heaven will be glorified? There are opportunities each Sunday afternoon, Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday night to get involved in being zealous for good works toward our neighbors through RPC. There are opportunities in your home, at school and in workplace everyday. There are also many other ways you can serve the needs of our neighbors in this community from next door to across town. But remember God does not need your good works your neighbor does so that he or she may find her delight in Him.