Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
As I
was doing my devotions this morning, my mind went back to this verse. The
question that came to me was, what are the good works that God prepared for us
to do? The first answer that comes to mind relates to spiritual good works;
sharing the gospel with others, loving others, teaching others, etc. But is
that all that is contained in those words? Could there be a broader
application, without violating the original intent of Paul?
One
of the reasons for asking the question is that I believe many people feel
inadequate to “do good works”, if we narrowly define them in what we define as
spiritual terms. “I can’t preach or teach. I am not an evangelist. Therefore I
am a spiritual failure.” I don’t think this was the outcome Paul was looking
for. When we define good works only in “spiritual” terms, we eliminate the vast
majority of what we do every day. For a person who is serious about living out
their faith, this is discouraging and disheartening. Could there be another way
to look at this passage that expands our understanding of good works? I think
there is.
Let
me see if I can build a credible case. God has had a plan for humanity since
before the creation of the world. That plan was that people would live in
relationship with Him and would glorify Him by the way they lived their lives.
So in the Garden of Eden, before the Fall, God gave Adam and Eve the task of
caring for creation. Then God said,
"Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the
fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the
earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." (Genesis
1:26) One of the first specific tasks that God gave to Adam was to care for the
garden. The Lord God took the man and
put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15)
The second specific task that God gave to Adam was to name the animals. Now the Lord God had formed out of the
ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought
them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called
each living creature, that was its name. (Genesis 2:19) Neither of these
specific tasks seem primarily “spiritual” to me, yet they were indeed good
works, which God prepared for Adam to do. By caring for the garden and by naming the
animals, Adam was glorifying God.
If
we can fast forward to the building of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, the
scriptures tell us that God specifically gave certain people the skill to
create designs, to work in wood and metal, and to weave fabric. The purpose for
these skills was to create the Tabernacle, but these skills themselves are no
exactly what we would identify as spiritual.
God
created humanity in His image to reflect His glory in the world. God has also
created each individual to be a unique expression of that glory. We know from
personal experience that not all people are the same. We vary in many ways,
including our talents and skills, yet we are all image bearers.
So
here is my point. By using my skills and talents well, I am fulfilling God’s
eternal plan to do good work for His glory. This does not negate the spiritual
dimension, but enhances it. I like to listen to classical music. Many of the
great composers dedicated their works to the glory of God. Their music is not
necessarily sacred, yet it is an expression of good works. As followers of
Christ, we have been given a wide array of gifts, talents and skills. I believe
that God wants us to use them, both in the church and in the world, for His
glory. It is essential that we share our faith, love one another, and care for
the poor. It is also essential that we use the skills and talents God has given
to us to the best of our ability and for His glory. God has created a plethora of
good works, which He intends for us to engage in, that span the full scope of
human experience. This should change the way we view our daily activities. For
we are called to do good works, not just when we are engaged in some spiritual
activity, but in every aspect of our lives.
And whatever you do, whether in word or
deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.
Colossians 3:17
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