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THE
NEW LIFE by
John Marshall
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Chapter
17 • GOOD WORKS
The
Supreme Good
Everything then which expands and enriches the activity of
the Word is a good work. In his writings Paul continually
stresses this and he would have found it difficult to conceive
of good works that were not related in some way to the Word.
He wrote to the Colossians that they "might walk worthily
of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good
work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.. ." And
writing of the pastoral care of the ecclesia he said to Timothy:
"If a man seeketh the office of a bishop (overseer),
he desireth a good work."
Such works are the supreme good and they must never be neglected
for they are the evidence of our love for the Father and a
fulfillment of the great commandment given through Moses and
cited by Jesus: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,
and with all thy strength." And what better way can this
be done than by a devoted study of His will?
Devotion to the will of God implies "a readiness to be
like Him in His kindness to all men" and Jesus drew this
out when he added "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Love of God, love of the Word; love of neighbour, love of
one's fellowman. This is the essence of true love. This also
is brought out in the parable of the virgins. There was something
else besides the lamp, the Word; there was the oil.
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References
Col 1v10 RV, 1 Tim 3v1 RV, Mark 12v30
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Chapter
17 • GOOD WORKS
In the Old Testament oil is shown as a means of worship, purification
and healing and as a symbol of sanctification, comfort, joy, peace
and light. When Paul wrote to the Galatians of "the fruit of
the Spirit" he showed them as "love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance: against
such there is no law". So that oil is representative of the
spirit of service to others: for it is only in relation to other
people that these virtues make sense. They are Godlike virtues,
manifested in their perfection in the life of Jesus and we have
to be transformed into his image.
The new life, therefore, must be rich in deeds as well as in words:
in compassion as well as in truth. Just as God "maketh his
sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just
and the unjust", so His children will generously bestow the
benefits of His love in them to all, in or out of the faith, irrespective
of race or creed. Many of us are neither as vigorous nor as selfless
in this respect as we might be.
Good works are the fruits of the selfless spirit which develops
in the saints as a result of knowing God and remembering their indebtedness
to Him. The Israelites were commanded to love the stranger "in
giving him food and raiment... for ye were strangers in the land
of Egypt". And Jesus exhorted his followers: "All things
whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to
them: for this is the law and the prophets."
Jesus is our supreme example of good works founded on a firm resolve
to give rather than to receive: "The Son of man came not to
be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom
for many." The divinely motivated giver is more greatly blessed
than the receiver. Thus life in the faith is not a lazy, apathetic
acceptance of doctrine and a self-righteous enjoyment of the gifts
of the Father with
little or no thought of sharing with others, but an active manifestation
of divine love which seizes every opportunity to serve wherever
it is found and needed.
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References
Gal 5v22 RV, Matt 5v45, Deut 10v18-19,
Matt 7v12, Matt 20v28
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