Good deeds
- Thread starter Maracujá
- Start date
The Bible not only encourages but commands good deeds; however, it is not the good deeds (known as 'works') which save our souls and gets us into Heaven.
Here are a few scriptures which my be of help ...
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. --- Colossians 3:17
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ --- Matthew 7:21-23
So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. ---- James 4:17
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works ... James 2:26
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. -- Hebrews 10:24
I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.... Galatians 5:19-26
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. --- James 1:27
Salvation is here in Romans 10:9 ... it is not of works of which any man can boast:
Romans 10:9
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved .. :Rose:
I hope this helps some. The others will come in and will have even more to share with you.
Prudent1
Well-Known Member
I love the passages Shimmie posted especially the one from Col 3:17. Here are a few more to ponder in response to your question.
Matthew 6
Giving to the Needy
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Consider this also...
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax CollectorLuke 18:9-14
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
So, I would say overwhelmingly keep silent. It is best to do things anonymously. Human nature is we want 'attaboys' for stuff we do
. I am no where near where I desire to be in my giving but, I have been able to help people and they don't have a clue where the help came from. I listen to ppl on purpose. You can locate a person quickly by doing that and observing them. You decipher their needs and how you can manifest God's love in their lives. I pray to God for guidance but there are some things that are elementary and you should do b/c you have the means. Like Joyce Meyer says it shouldn't take 6 angels appearing blasting trumpets before I visit with the elderly, feed hungry ppl (who are truly down & out), smile and show ppl they have value and worth i nthe eyes of God, or minister to a single mom who is going down a nasty path I've already traveled and received bruises from. The kingdom of God works on the principle of seed, time, and harvest. Charitable acts (good deeds) fall under seed. In due time you reap a harvest from God. Sometimes he just blesses you with stuff you didn't ask for just b/c he is a good daddy and knows you will like it. That really makes ppl outside the faith angry and often results in false accusations
. Only God can see the heart and know one's motives behind good deeds. Those with the right motives will prosper, those with the wrong ones will be exposed and fall eventually. God is not mocked.
Let me also say that sometimes God does say go tell Maracujá I love her and pay for her groceries for a week but the majority of the time he is low key and instructs us to be the same way. After all, he is El Elyon and has nothing to prove.
Matthew 6
Giving to the Needy
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Consider this also...
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax CollectorLuke 18:9-14
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
So, I would say overwhelmingly keep silent. It is best to do things anonymously. Human nature is we want 'attaboys' for stuff we do
. I am no where near where I desire to be in my giving but, I have been able to help people and they don't have a clue where the help came from. I listen to ppl on purpose. You can locate a person quickly by doing that and observing them. You decipher their needs and how you can manifest God's love in their lives. I pray to God for guidance but there are some things that are elementary and you should do b/c you have the means. Like Joyce Meyer says it shouldn't take 6 angels appearing blasting trumpets before I visit with the elderly, feed hungry ppl (who are truly down & out), smile and show ppl they have value and worth i nthe eyes of God, or minister to a single mom who is going down a nasty path I've already traveled and received bruises from. The kingdom of God works on the principle of seed, time, and harvest. Charitable acts (good deeds) fall under seed. In due time you reap a harvest from God. Sometimes he just blesses you with stuff you didn't ask for just b/c he is a good daddy and knows you will like it. That really makes ppl outside the faith angry and often results in false accusations. Only God can see the heart and know one's motives behind good deeds. Those with the right motives will prosper, those with the wrong ones will be exposed and fall eventually. God is not mocked. Let me also say that sometimes God does say go tell Maracujá I love her and pay for her groceries for a week but the majority of the time he is low key and instructs us to be the same way. After all, he is El Elyon and has nothing to prove.
I love the passages Shimmie posted especially the one from Col 3:17. Here are a few more to ponder in response to your question.
Matthew 6
Giving to the Needy
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Consider this also...
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax CollectorLuke 18:9-14
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
So, I would say overwhelmingly keep silent. It is best to do things anonymously. Human nature is we want 'attaboys' for stuff we do
Let me also say that sometimes God does say go tell Maracujá I love her and pay for her groceries for a week but the majority of the time he is low key and instructs us to be the same way. After all, he is El Elyon and has nothing to prove.
Prudent1
Your entire post is on point. You brought 'home', angel.
And thank you for reminding me of Matthew 6... this is so important, for many people do good works only to be 'seen' and applauded for it, more than being about helping the person/people in need.
"They" have their reward with the showing off as their motivation.
This is an excellent thread topic.
Guitarhero
New Member
Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Once you "brag" on a good deed, that's all the reward you will get, the earthly one. Of course, there's a difference between bragging on it and, say, stating your experiences in philanthropy etc. if you're seeking a position and this is part of the vetting process etc. Sometimes, people tell about certain things they've done in order to encourage another. It all depends upon the individual situation.
