Maintaining Good Works

"This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men."

Titus 3:8

I have heard people say, "That's my good deed for the day" as if it is a onerous chore.  It seems some are glad to move on from doing good to get on with what we would rather do.  But is there anything better than doing good, seeing it is one purpose God has created us?  Why limit our good deeds to one when, if done with the mindset of irritation or self-commendation, it may not even be classified as a "good" deed because of selfish motives behind it?

Ephesians 2:8-10 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  Having been born again by faith in Jesus, we are created in Christ Jesus for good works God has prepared for us to do.  The Titus passage affirms constantly we should be "careful to maintain good works."  It is strongly implied even after we trust in Christ we are not vigilant as we should be to continually do good.

To keep things we have in prime condition maintenance is required.  Quality vehicles, houses, yards and our bodies need regular maintenance.  Toilets, the BBQ, carpets and floors need maintenance to remain clean.  We love the idea of things being "maintenance free" like many car batteries are these days, but that still doesn't mean they will last forever.  Good works are not maintenance free:  they need to be carefully maintained because they do not happen automatically.  The desire, ability and joy in doing them all come from God, and thus maintaining a close relationship with God is a key to maintaining good works we join with Him and others in doing.

In reflecting on maintenance, it is easy to start well and quickly taper off.  We can be forgetful to mow the lawn or decide we'd rather not power wash the deck because it isn't that bad.  We can be tired, prioritise doing something else, or plain choose to ignore the thing.  This is where self-control, diligence and perseverance God gives make a difference when we humble ourselves before the LORD.  Doing good is good and profitable to all men, and that includes us and others.  Jesus has given us an example of what doing good looks like, in Acts 10:38 Peter connected Jesus' doing good with being anointed by the Holy Spirit and power.  God was with Him, and Jesus has promised to be with us.

After you have done a good deed, don't stop there!  If we do good it is only because God is good, and instead of commending ourselves we ought to praise and thank Him.  Each day we are given on earth is a good gift from God, and we ought to be constantly careful to maintain good works.  We need not keep a tally of our good deeds, for every one is only possible because of our good God and Saviour who created us to do good works He has prepared beforehand for us to do.  Doing good is what we are to devote ourselves to because we are in Christ who has begun a good work in us.