TO HAVE GOOD WORKS by Cliff Yang.
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on it’s stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
This verse tells us that we should have good works so we may give praise to our Father in heaven. When you have good works, we may cause the people around us to be edified. Good works include having good conduct as well as performing good deeds. To have good conduct is to follow the teachings of the bible. If we have bad conduct or do bad things, we will bring shame to our God and our fellow brothers and sisters. Having good works will bring glory to our God.
If somebody has bad conduct, (e.g. he swears, smokes and constantly insults others) people may say: “What’s the difference between a TJC member and a non-TJC member? They are just like us !”. In an event like this, we would have brought shame to our God as well as a bad name to our TJC members. This is because we have to be different from gentiles and have good conduct or a better conduct than them. We should have love in our hearts. (1 Corinthians chap. 13)
If somebody performs good works and has a good conduct, (e.g. he helps people out, being kind and polite) he will give Christians a good name. This is because when other people sees his good works, they may think that our TJC members are good. This will give glory to our God. This may also lead people to our church.
Joseph had performed good works therefore he enabled Pharoah to understand the true God. Daniel had good conduct therefore he enabled King Nebuchanezzar and King Darius to know the true God. Daniel’s three friends also enabled King Nebuchanezzar to know the true God.
Therefore, in our daily lives, we should also perform good works so more people will know our God. As it is recorded in James 4:17 “ Any one, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it , is sins “.
QUESTIONS;
In our daily lives, do we perform god work ?
What should we do or what can we do so we can perform good works more often?