I have seen confusion over the years about the place and importance of good works in the Christian life. I have always known that you can’t buy a ticket to heaven with good works. But it has been my experience that once you are put on the highway to heaven by believing and following Jesus, there will be plenty of work to be done for others along the way there. A good friend put it this way in a recent Face Book post, “God is in control, but He doesn’t expect you to lean on a shovel and pray for a hole.”
We are expected, as adopted sons and daughters of God, to emulate God’s true Son. He demonstrated for us how to live life humbly, always looking for ways to serve the needs of others instead of demanding that they serve you. Though He was their teacher, mentor and spiritual leader, He knelt down and washed the feet of his disciples. With his usual brash manner, Simon Peter refused, saying that he should be washing Jesus’ feet instead. But when Jesus told him if he didn’t allow him to wash his feet, he was not a true follower. Then Simon told Jesus to wash all of him then. Jesus explained why that wasn’t necessary. By that act, Jesus taught them to never be too high and mighty to do even the most menial task to help others. It was an object lesson I’m sure none of them ever forgot (with the exception of Judas Iscariot).
Are we, as Christians, then to go through life looking for dirty feet to wash? Not exactly! Sometimes the task will be even more humbling than that. It isn’t the task itself that matters; it is our attitude about doing it that God looks at. If we expect something in return, even thanks or praise, that will be our only reward. We often hear that God loves a cheerful giver when the offering plate is passed around, but it applies to all of the assistance we give to others as well.
A friend once told me about something her father taught her that has stayed with her all of these years. A man approached them in a parking lot and asked for some money to buy medicine for his sick wife. Her father gave him twenty dollars and she told him, “He’ll probably just buy some liquor with that money. Her father told her, ” If he does, that will say a lot about his character; but if I pass up someone in need when I have the means to help them, that would say a lot about me.” She has never forgotten that our acts of charity and kindness demonstrate who we are and not just the good works we do. We are blessed so we are able to bless others. It is who we are as God’s children and who He wants us to be.