Now that we men are in a proper relationship with God through faith in his son, Jesus Christ, it’s time to get to work and do the amazing good God has called us to do. So the question is, who does God want us to do our good works for?
Fortunately, Scripture is clear about who God wants us to do our good works for: fellow believers who are in need, followed by others who are in need. “Let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). John states in 1 John 3, “If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need and shuts up his compassion from him, how does the love of God dwell in him. Beloved, let us love, not in word only, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18).
Why this preference for needy believers? Because we are in a covenant relationship, not only with God, but also with each other. Our fellow believers are part of our eternal family. In fact, this eternal family is far more durable than our earthly family. Because our church is a family bound together in a covenant relationship to love each other, it is critical that all on-going needs be addressed in our forever family. Paul says, “Let our people learn to engage in good deeds, to meet pressing needs. That they may not be unfruitful” (Titus 3:14).
Unfortunately, churches often ignore the neediest in their own congregations and instead reach out to the community and even to foreign lands. Imagine that I have a family with young children. But instead of feeding them, I take all our food and donate it to the Salvation Army. You would say that I have my priorities confused, that I first must meet the needs of my family and then–and only then–should I donate to outside organizations. But the church does this all the time.
It’s the same way with the amazing good God wants men to do. The reason he sent his son to save them is for the benefit of the neediest in their churches, followed by the neediest in their communities.
This post first appeared in NewCommandment.org.
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