Good works bring God’s eternal rewards
The annual celebration of Labor Day — the first Monday of September each year — is a celebration of the nation's workers.
Hard work on our part can raise our standard of living and provide the necessities. Did you know work also has eternal significance? Let me illustrate this with a short story.
A young boy, on an errand for his mother, had just bought a dozen eggs. Walking out of the store, he tripped and dropped the sack. All the eggs broke, and the sidewalk was a mess. The boy tried not to cry as people were watching. A few of the people gathered to see if he was OK and to tell him how sorry they were. In the midst of these words of pity, one man handed the boy a quarter. Then he turned to the group and said, “I care 25 cents worth. How much do the rest of you care?”
This man allowed his compassion to produce an act of mercy. In spiritual terms, this is called good works. In the book of James, the Bible says, “faith without works is useless.” Another way to say that is, words don't mean much if we have the ability to do more. Christianity involves faith working through love.
Consider this carefully. Works will never earn your place in heaven, but if you are a believer, good works are always necessary.
The week of Labor Day, my church family distributes big gift baskets to many of our city work groups. Firefighters, police, mayor's office, Architectural Control Committee, Property Owners Association, post offices, animal shelter, schools, Water Department, Street Department, etc. We are hopeful that some kindness and generosity will make our community a better place to work and live.
The Word of God has inspired us to reach outside our own little church family.
God will show you how to be a blessing to your neighbors and co-workers — if you'll just let Him. God bless you, and have a great day.
Matt 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Eph. 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
1 Tim 6:18-19 - Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Titus 3:8 - 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.
Heb 10:24 - And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.
1 Peter 2:12 - having your conduct honorable …, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
All verses are NKJV.