Dear BPCWAians, Continuing from last week, we will address a popular but erroneous concept of “good works” and also discuss our attitude in doing any work.

1) Market place good works.This is an increasingly popular but unbiblical concept. It is in effect works motivated by economic benefits. Promoted by what is known as the Faith and Work (or the Faith at Work) Movement, it began through the Christian Businessmen’s Committee and the Full Gospel Businessmen International and has developed beyond Scriptural principles. This is the “theology” of economics where one is encouraged to think about contributing value to the community through the product or service, integrating faith into life in the marketplace to make it more holistic. Ultimately, it is about the integration of theology with business and economics. The thinking is that “Christianizing” the workplace can bring God’s favour to the company’s business as part of a marketplace Christianity. God blesses them in the marketplace because they are obedient to Him. The workplace is the church, and even marketplace pastors or workplace-ministry consultants are hired. To cater to such popular notions, NIV has even published a “Faith and Work Bible”, and there are workplace email devotionals, all helping to tell stories of Jesus, the apostles and others in the Bible who had jobs. This is consumerism in a theological suit.

2) Works done for self promotion or selfish aims. Good works done with wrong motives are not good works in God’s eyes. These works may seem to be good on the surface and may indeed be good in itself.

Christ condemned the Pharisees because they “draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matt 15:8) Their outward profession, religiosity and their sacrifices were beyond reproach. But what they did was not for God, nor for His glory, but their own. “But all their works they do for to be seen of men … And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.” (Matthew 23:5-7). Christ spent much of His time condemning these works, especially because they lead others to sin. These works, though “good”, actually act against Christ because they take glory away from Him and to themselves instead. We can serve zealously and give materially but all the while for the wrong reasons. We can do these because we love the recognition that we receive from others. Doing things because it gives us a sense of self-achievement is also wrong. Some people do things for God because it makes them feel virtuous. We must all be always wary and mindful of these in our own hearts. Service must always be for God’s kingdom, for the good of His kingdom and His church.

What must be the motivation of good works? The Bible speaks of works. However, not all these works are works of faith. There are “dead works” (Heb 6:1). But at the same time, the Bible speaks of “work of faith” (1 Thess 1:3, 2 Thess 1:11). Just as we discussed last week, true saving faith in Christ will be demonstrated in the life of the believer. The fruit of true faith will be demonstrated to bear the mark and character of their heavenly Father, in His communicable attributes of holiness, justice, goodness and truth. 1Cor 3:12-14 reminds us, “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (13) Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. (14) If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.” Our motivation and attitude is what makes a particular deed to be either “wood, hay, stubble” or be “gold, silver, precious stones” in God’s eyes. Always check our heart even in doing what God commands. When we help someone, give something to someone, or do something for the church, let us be very honest with ourselves before God. Repent quickly in our hearts and minds while we are doing the deed. Ensure that what we do is not for recognition or personal benefit, but purely for the benefit of others and for the glory of God. Our Lord Jesus gives the best guide, in Matt 6:1-4 “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. (2) Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (3) But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: (4) That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”

Yours in our Lord’s service

Pastor