Saturday, September 26, 2015

FULFILLING OUR PURPOSE

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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