Always Be Doing Good

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

(James 2:26)

Christians are no different than anyone else when it comes to having busy lives. Careers and family occupy the majority of our time. If we have children at home, we’re running them from one activity to another. If we’re not running around, we’re trying to rest or pursue other diversions. We’re too busy, with too much going on. It’s a vicious circle. Those are the reasons we give for why we don’t do good works. A reason is not necessarily a justification, it’s usually just an excuse.

Even after we’ve been saved, we have a tendency to sit back and let others do the good works. We’ll say to ourselves, ‘Other people have more money to give to good works than me.’ ‘They have more free time to do good works than me.’ There’s one problem, Jesus didn’t tell me to help the widow and fatherless, if I had time. His three-year ministry was both teaching us about the Father’s kingdom and healing people of all kinds of infirmities. He would stop whatever he was doing to heal someone or give them the good news.

Doing good deeds doesn’t have to take a lot of time. In fact, it can often be accomplished in just a few minutes. When we are at work, we can do something nice for a coworker. If we see or hear of someone in need and we have the means to help, then we are commanded to do so. Our labors for the Lord don’t have to be difficult or take hours and
hours – only heartfelt and spirit filled. We cannot claim to be followers of Jesus Christ if we never do anything for anyone, whether they’re believers or not. We show our faith in Jesus by our good works.

Sometimes, the opportunity to do a good deed just pops up and surprises us because we weren’t spiritually ready. By that I mean, we should constantly be asking the Lord to keep us alert to situations where we can show his love by helping someone out. For instance, you are in a checkout line at a store. A young lady in front of you has insufficient funds to pay for her groceries. With the Holy Spirit’s help, be ready to step in a pay for her things. Don’t take credit for what you’re doing, give the glory to God. You will never be ready for something like this if you don’t prayerfully prepare in advance.

Dear Heavenly Father you are so powerful and good, and we are so weak and wicked. We are in awe of your power and might, Father. We bow to our knees and worship you because you alone are worthy of our praises. You are the Maker and Guardian of everything; from each star in the universe to the tiniest particles of the atomic structure. You have always been so generous with us all our lives. You provide everything we have. Help us to be as generous with those is need as you have been with us. Put the purpose of helping others in our hearts. Never let us turn our backs on anyone in need. When we have it in our means, have the Holy Spirit urge us on to provide to the best of our ability. Remind us, if we claim to have faith in Jesus Christ, that faith must be accompanied by good works. Without our acts of service to others, our faith is in nothing. Without good deeds, we demonstrate we have learned nothing about Jesus to believers and unbelievers alike. Help us to remember to pray to be alert for the chance to help someone at a moment’s notice. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!