Are You A Do-Gooder?

NOTE: THE TERM AS NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS BUT CHRISTIANS ARE THE ONES WHO REALLY DO ANYTHING GOOD.

We are all known by our fruits, our deeds, whether good or evil. We are even supposed to judge according to the fruits. Only God sees the heart. If we claim to believe in God and even repent and don't have the fruits to prove it, we are hypocrites and pseudo-believers or false brethren. (cf. Acts 26:20; Matt. 3:8). Beware the wolf in sheep's clothing! We are to be wise as serpents and as gentle as doves and to "be wise to good but innocent to evil." (cf. 1 Cor. 14:20).

There are some people who engage their activities in the service of their fellow man such as giving blood, serving in food shelves, giving alms to the poor, visiting the sick, feeding the starving, and opening up their homes to strangers and even entertaining angels unawares. But some people forget that deeds themselves do not earn us brownie points with God nor ingratiate us with the Deity. We are to be zealous of good deeds (cf. Titus 2:14) and to do those that are foreordained (cf. Eph. 2:10) for us but just doing them for their own sake is do-goodery or to to gain the approbation of our fellow man and not as unto the Lord is in vain; viz., Ted Turner granting $1 billion to the UN to become the Humanist of the Year. Whatever we do, ought to be in the name of the Lord and for His glory, not ours. (cf. 1 Cor. 10:31: Col. 3:17, 23).

Jesus said that many will say, "Lord, Lord, did we not... in Your name?" and Christ will say that He never knew them! This may seem shocking but some people put their faith in their deeds or even in themselves and not in Jesus, the one worthy of our faith.

We are not saved by doing good, but unto doing good. We are not saved by good works, but not without them either! We need them to authenticate and validate our faith. The faith we have is the faith we show, for faith expresses itself. If we have no deeds to back up our faith, it is suspect. As the Reformers said, "We are saved by faith alone, but not a faith that is alone."

Now to whom much is given, much is required (cf. Luke 12:48); we are to serve according to the measure of faith and grace given us. We are to serve and find our gifting so we can find God's will for our life and be fulfilled with purpose and meaning in life serving God the best we can. The whole aim is so that people will see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven (cf. Matt. 5:16).

People may even speak highly of us in the Lord but we must realize that it is God working in us as Paul said, "I will not venture to speak of nothing but what Christ has accomplished through me." (cf. Rom. 15:18). God works His will in us who are yielded to Him. "He has done for us all our works," (cf. Isaiah 26:12). Our fruits are from Him (cf. Hosea 14:8).

We ought to do good especially to those of the household of God and as the opportunity arises with others, have any gift envy of what God has gifted others, nor are we to project our gifts to others expecting them to do what we do or can do. We are all unique in Christ and have individual callings and God will fulfill His purpose for us. When we have done all God's will, we will be taken home and to our reward. We must hope for the words of Christ: Well done, thou good and faithful servant.

We are not to do good deeds to be seen of others as to publicize them but not to privatize them either for some deeds cannot be hidden. Remember, we are the salt of the earth (to preserve!) and are saved to become a blessing (cf. Zech. 8:13). There is no social gospel but there is a social commission to be a light on a hill and to bless the city ("to seek the peace and prosperity of our city,") we live in to make it better for our neighbors (cf. Jer. 29:7).

And we all know that we are to be good neighbors regardless of whom they are and look for chances to be good Samaritans and thus fulfil the Law of love. Soli Deo Gloria!