The Fairborn Paper

“But at least they’re doing it,” I said.  “It’s better to do good because you are required to than to do no good at all.”

So I like the idea of required community service for students.  The main reason is that it opens the student’s eyes to the world around them.  It gets them outside the box of their little teenage existence.

For example, how many kids will volunteer on their own to help out at a homeless shelter?  Not many.  But some that are required to will end up having a passion for it.

Our communities are full of volunteers doing good deeds.  People helping people.  And as Christians, that’s exactly what we are supposed to be doing:  good works.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works…”

This is what we were made for.  It’s why we are here.  We function at our best when we are doing good works.

Steve Smith was a local man who recently passed away.  He was the head of The Men’s Fraternity of Wakulla.  One of the key missions for this group of men was to pool their talents and do good deeds for the people of Wakulla County.  For example, say an older woman had a back porch that was rotting.  They would go in and build a new one.

Then, instead of leaving a bill, they would just leave a little card with this headline, “Why We’re Here.”  One line inside the card says, “I want you to see God’s love in my service.”

The Men’s Fraternity of Wakulla is just one example of people doing good deeds.  Of course there are unlimited ways of doing good deeds.  My goal today is to bring the need for good deeds back to the top of your mind.

What can you do as a good deed for others?

I know one woman with a passion for people in old folk’s homes.  She will visit them and take them gifts and even entertain them.  It’s not a paid job, it’s just a good deed that she does.

Titus 2:14 uses this phrase, “zealous for good works.”  That’s what we need to be, zealous for good works.

What good work are you zealous for?

I know several people who are foster parents.  That is an amazing good work, so necessary and so difficult.  I know people who adopt children, which becomes a lifelong good deed.

Galatians 6:10 says, “…as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

That means, when you are looking around for good deeds to do, a good place to start is within your own church.

But we don’t hide our good deeds inside the church.  First Peter 2:12 says, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.”
Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

So we do good deeds within the church, and we do good deeds out in the community.  And we do them in such a way that people will see them and glorify God in the process.

Titus 3:8 says we should, “…be careful to maintain good works.”

Maintaining good works is a little more challenging than just doing a good work once in a while.  It’s not that hard to do the occasional good deed.  But doing good deeds is something we should do, and keep on doing.

Titus 3:14 uses this phrase, “…learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs…”
So when you are looking around for a good deed to do, look for the most urgent needs.  Yes, there are many nice things we can do, but urgent needs take priority.

One thing that can quickly dry up your good deeds is when you suddenly have a great need yourself.  Don’t let that happen.

First Peter 4:19 says that, even when we ourselves are suffering, we should continue to do good.

One thing to keep in mind is that, as you do good works, you are setting a good example for others.  Paul wrote in Titus 2:7 that in all things he should show himself to be a pattern of good works.

So when other people look at our lives, do they see us as a pattern of good works?

Tabitha was, according to Acts 9:36.  It says she was a woman “full of good works and charitable deeds…”

First Timothy 6:18 uses this phrase, “…to be rich in good deeds…”

So what can you do to be full of good works and rich in charitable deeds?  Look around.  There are so many needs.  No, you can’t meet them all, but you can meet some.

Hebrews 10:24 says we should spur one another on “toward love and good deeds,” so consider this your spur today.  It’s time to get the horse moving.

This is what we were made for.  It’s why we are here.  We function at our best when we are doing good works.