What is your opinion, stand on works? Is your reaction – “look at all I’m doing, of course I believe in works – that’s what I do!” For a moment consider Ephesians 2:8-10
“For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God: not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above – spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].”
Do you ever think about the scripture in Ephesians 2? Do you apply it to what you do? Do you know or check to make certain it’s something You need to Do? Is the Lord invited into the process or do you make the determination? I have a couple of questions we should think on before adding….
One is the scripture which tells us to be as wise as serpents and gentle as doves (Matthew 10:16). I typically phrase this as the Father has created us with brains, as such He expects us to use them. Two is a ‘warning’ He gives us which is to always test the spirits (1 John 4:1-3). The third point is He tells us that He will never tempt us, He will never ask us to do something we can’t accomplish.
“No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word – He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].” [1 Corinthians 10:13]
Granted this verse is talking about temptations, but I think it can also be applied to the work we do. It is so easy to get caught up into what we are asked to do, but not always is this for us… it can be a way to increase the work at the expense of our relationship. I believe that too often, we step up when the work is really for another.
Another way of looking at this is that ‘work’ should be the expression of our ‘faith’. James 2:18
“But someone may say, “You [claim to] have faith and I have [good] works; show me your [alleged] faith without the works [if you can], and I will show you my faith by my works [that is, by what I do].”
In a very real way they are inseparable – you need the faith in order to do the works and stepping out to do works proves your faith. Knowing that with the Lord you CAN do all things (Philippians 4:13). Part of our ‘work’ is to grow in sensitivity to the voice of the Lord and His direction. And yes, I know I’ve said this in other blog posts but the point is important. Relationship is the foundation in all of this. Works, Faith, etc. all are based in our personal relationship with the Lord.
It is He who provides opportunity for work, for us to grow in relationship, to live meaningful and fruitful lives. Works are integral but without faith it won’t happen and faith doesn’t occur apart from relationship.
