James 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
I was reading an article this morning about an 85 year old man who got stuck in his car for days. It was so hot and he had no food and only 8 ounces of water to survive. He was so sure he was going to die he wrote a goodbye note on the car’s console explaining it was an accident. He was finally rescued and you know what this 85 year old man planned to do? Not vacation or eat an entire chocolate cake or go on a shopping spree or fishing trip. “Porter said he was going to concentrate on giving more of his time and resources to charity, according to KENS.” I read that and said, YES. Even at 85 when most of us younger folk would say, it’s time for you to rest. You’ve lived your life and you now deserve to be served. This man, that had looked death in the face, did not want to squander his true last days on himself, but giving away more of himself.
But the part that’s gotten me all week is what are these good deeds?? Is it like the guy said, is it helping charities? Is it simply forgiving an enemy? Is it letting someone else go first? Is it sending a card to someone? Is it adopting a child? What is required of me??
I guess it’s easy to throw this off and say does it really matter? And to me, it does. Because I don’t want to face death and realize I’ve missed a life full of good deeds. Ephesians says: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” I know I have faith and I try to do good deeds, but ya’ll, I do not want to miss those things God has planned for me.
What do you count as good deeds? Do you believe we have specific ones to do TODAY?
Make sure to check out other James post over at MarlaTaviano.com
I wish I had answers to your questions, but I have the same ones! The first thoughts that come to mind for me as good deeds are helping others financially, and perhaps materially ie giving them food. Does it count as a good deed that I walked out of the library yesterday and saw my cousins girlfriend with a dead car and took her to her house to get another car to pick up her family in??? Lately (mostly due to listening to David Platt’s sermons) I feel like doing good means sacrificing. I always tend to think of it as financially, but surely time and talent could be given of sacrificially. I keep thinking about what I’ve heard about people who believe that you have to earn your way to heaven. How do you know that you’ve done enough works? So, how do I know I’ve done enough good deeds? Surely doing only one good deed in my entire Christian life time is not a good example of bearing good fruit, but what if my last good deed was done last month? Or a year ago?
Thank you for the comment. Well, I definitely don’t mean to say I think our deeds save us because I don’t. But ive heard the phrase we’re not just saved from something but FOR something. I think a lot of people stop at getting saved from something and never think about these good deeds set aside for us. But as you said they are fruit of the spirit so maybe it’s not something you can force. Or maybe it’s just a mindset of being more alert to them. I don’t know! Clearly
That’s so awesome that God brought us both to the same verses! Isn’t it awesome to know that he works in the hearts of his saints, and lets them have confirmation of that work through each other?
Yes and two near strangers too
thx for visiting and again for your post!
Before I die I pray my life reflects the wisdom in the book of James. Thus far, I’m a spectacular failure. Real talk.
Lately I keep hearing so much emphasis from Pastors that we shouldn’t focus on good works, that it’s about grace. Yes, I get that. I know there’s nothing my sinful being will ever be able to accomplish that will even the stacks of God’s grace. Not even close.
But. BUT, like you said we were not put on this Earth for our own leisure & pleasure. We were not given gifts for our own purposes. And we were not given grace to then excuse ourselves from *serving* others daily. The phrase “use all of me Lord, until there’s nothing left of me” must be our heart’s condition.
What a great reminder for my selfish ambitions today, Amy. Thank you!
I like you, Amy. You know that, right. I love what you said about being saved FROM something and FOR something. The from is what Christ did for me and now the for is my chance to live out the gospel for others. And I LOVE that you and Danielle both picked up the Ephesians 2:10 thing. That makes my heart sing.