Recognizing Good Works

Q: I have four similar questions: How do we recognize the good works that Christ has prepared for us to do, and how do we recognize if a good work is someone else's to do? and, Once we recognize what is ours to do, how do we know when to stop( reference the parable of the good Samaritan, and Moses, when he was rebuked and warned by his father-in-law, that trying to do everything would wear him and the people out.), and how do we stay focused on our goal and stay single-minded?

A: Thank you for your questions. As Christians I do not think we should spend our time trying to figure out what works Christ has prepared for us to do. When we are concerned about the works we are to do, the focus shifts from Jesus Christ to us. After all, it is He who has prepared them and it is He who will do those works through us. Ephesians 2:8-10 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." We were not saved by works and we do not live by works. As this passage states, the reason works do not play a role in our lives is so that we cannot boast. Human beings are too easily swayed into focusing on their individual actions as well as the actions of those around them. Therefore, the works you seek to identify can become measuring sticks that we use to judge one another. If God prepared them for us to do, He will be the one to do those works through us.

Philippians 2:12-13 says, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Here again we see that the salvation we are to work out, with fear and trembling, is ultimately accomplished by God who "works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." He is the one who is doing the work because He is the one who knows what He wants to accomplish by doing those works. Our job is to let Him do it. The Holy Spirit will be the one who puts it on a person's heart to act if He desires for them to do a specific work. It is not for us to try and figure out who is do a good work or what works they are doing. Furthermore, how would we know what a good work is, when the opportunity to perform it arises and then who is the one to perform it? Life, in most cases, happens at too fast a pace for all of this deciphering and decision making to take place prior to any of us acting. That is why we leave it the Lord to work out His plan in the manner He chooses.

Have you ever taken the time to look at a fruit tree? One thing you will quickly notice is that the fruit the branches bear are made available to whomever comes along and desires to partake of it. You do not see the branches trying to determine which piece of fruit hangs off of them or which branch is to provide a particular piece of fruit to someone. No, the branches are just available to the vine to produce the fruit they bear. And when that fruit is ready to be eaten, the people will appear through no effort of the branches. That is the way it is with us as Christians. Jesus said in John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit apart from me you can do nothing." To me, if I am wondering what His works are for me to do, what they are, when others are to do works there is no way to stay focused on "our goal," whatever that may be and staying "single-minded." It is how I end up doing "nothing" and being "apart" from the Lord because I am focused on my part in His works. The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is a simple example of loving others the way Christ loved us. This story is not one of the Samaritan trying to identify works to do, but one of responding in love to a situation presented to him. He decided to stop out of his love and compassion for the injured man. That is a decision God leaves up to all of us to make.

In regards to Moses and Jethro (Exodus 18:1-27), this is a story of Moses being open to constructive criticism and the wisdom of his father-in-law. Jethro noticed Moses was spreading himself thin and by doing so, was not adequately meeting the needs of the people. In short, he was working too hard. What I take from this story is that we should always be open to godly counsel. Notice that when Jethro gave the advice he did so with the caveat, if "God so commands." We must all learn to trust the Lord to guide us and not get so caught up trying to figure it all out ourselves. Romans 12:1 says, "I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." Our service to God is to be living sacrifices; making ourselves available to God to do as He wills in and through each one of us. He has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) and blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). He did all this by the giving of Himself, through the indwelling Holy Spirit. This allows us to rest from our works and allows Him to do His work in and through us the way He originally created it to be. Remember, that the fruit of the Spirit is just that, the fruit of the Spirit. It is not our fruit. We bear the fruit (i.e. good works) He is producing through us by resting in His unconditional love and total acceptance of us.