Why Work?

I like using the title ‘Calvinist’. Not because I follow John Calvin (I actually don’t know that much about the guy), but because Calvinism  does a good job of putting together what the Bible teaches about Grace and Salvation in a simple way:

1. We’re dead because of sin. (Eph 2:1)

2. God chose to save us, not because we did something to deserve being saved. (Rom 8:29-30, 9:11)

3. Salvation is a work that is for God’s chosen people and is already completed (Eph 1:4-6)

4. God’s power really does save us, and we can’t do anything to escape this love. (John 6:37)

5. God doesn’t just save us, he keeps us as well. He finishes what He started. (John 10:27-29)

Many people think that this is too easy. That believing Eph 2:8-9 will makes us lazy Christians that go on sinning because we already have a space reserved in heaven. Why do we Christians ‘work’ then, if we don’t need to do it to be saved nor to remain saved? If God is doing all the work, like He says, what’s the point of our work?

We may answer quickly with a popular quote from James 2:17: Faith without works is dead. But why? This mighty faith that even if as small as a mustard seed can move mountains, why would it be non-existent without works?

Mango Trees Have Mangoes

Romans 2:4 tells us that it is God’s kindness that should lead us to change the way we think and act. (It is important to note that we do not change, hoping that God will then be kind to us.)

There’s a story of a wealthy man who needed to hire a workman for a project. He had his pick of any skilled worker in the village, but unexpectedly chose a man that was crippled in one leg. This cripple man would get the job done, but it would take much longer, and cost the owner much more money to complete the project. Nobody understood the decision, but they, of course would never question the owner of the property. This owner would sometimes be seen fraternising with this work man, and even giving him a hand! This was quite odd for a man of his position.
It is told that these two men served in the same unit during the war, and the cripple acted bravely on many occasions to save his friend’s life. Now that the war was over, they each returned to their stations in life. It was difficult, even impossible for their friendship to work by the rules of society, no matter how poorly it would reflect of this respectable gentleman.  Because of the continual kindness that was shown to him, in his heart, he had to do everything he could to show his gratitude and love.

I’m sure by now you can make a parallel of sorts to our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. If we are truly saved, and if we truly understand the great sacrifice that the Lord made on our behalf, there would be no question about our salvation because our love for the Lord. And our gratitude for what He has done would overflow in good works. This Lord asks us to, and we do; Because of what He has already done, not because of what we hope He will do.

Ephesians 2:9 says that we are not saved by works. But verse 10 says that God planned for us to do good works.

Everything that is done, is done for God’s glory. Jesus died for our sins, but his act and obedience was all about God Everything we do, though it may benefit us or others should point to the Lord and His Splendor.

To go back to where we started, if a Christian is not doing good works, it would cause us to question if that person was really saved. Did that person really have their life changed? Have they been made a friend and child of someone they were once an enemy of? If you love God, you will keep His commandments.

It’s gets a little bit circular: God has saved us and it causes us to do good works. But because we are doing good works, we become more and more like Christ, which shows in more good works. Good works helps to perfect us.

Our Good Works For Others

Matthew 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven.
We’re so blessed, we do whatever our Saviour wants. All of our good works flow out of a heart filled with gratitude and love.  And it is so overwhelming that we also want to share this blessing with others. 2 Cor 5:17-21 reminds of that we have been reconciled to God (how huge is that!!!) and God has also, then, given us this message of reconciliation to pass on to others. Really read the whole passage. It is mindblowing to consider!

People will get saved because of our good works, and they will get a better understanding of who Christ is if I live like Christ.

But I am also encouraged as a Christian when I see other believers willing to really live for Christ. It does a great job of reminding me of what really matters. It points me back to the Lord and the problems of this world start to look as they truly are: momentary.

My Christian brothers and sisters are kind enough to thank me and encourage me to keep going when they do see my good works. I am more willing when I know that it means something to someone else.

Good Works Defined

I have been assuming that we are all be on the same page in terms of what ‘good works’ is. So let me tangent slightly to throw in James 1:27 here: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Don’t be confused into thinking that singing loudly on Sunday morning and giving an offering is what we are speaking of here. We’re talking about being kind to the jerk that treats you badly, or not complaining when you have not received service that you have paid for. Check Matthew 5:38-6:4 for some more examples.

That verse (you did go read it, right?) leads to another important point: Our good works do not go unnoticed before the Lord. It is hard work, and we sometimes become tired of it. We’d like to be able to scream at someone for taking advantage of us, or enjoy our meal without thinking about the starving children in Africa. Gal 6:9 encourages us to ‘not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’ We will be storing up treasures in heaven, and we will receive what is due to us. (Matt 5:20, 2 Cor 5:10)

In summary, we do not do good works to gain nor keep salvation nor to gain God’s favour. Our good works flow out of our gratitude for what the Lord has done for us. It helps us to be assured of our salvation, it points others to the Lord and gives God glory. And the Lord will reward us for our obedience to Him.

Faith without works is dead. If you really believe something, it will be proven by what you do!
VM