Full of Good Works
Introduction. “At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did” (Acts 9:36-43). Her example is exactly what Paul later told Titus to do as “a pattern of good works.” Jesus died to “purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” and Dorcas showed exactly how this could be done. All should “affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works” as Dorcas did. She exemplified the duty to “let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.” (Titus 2:7,14; 3:8, 14).
Are we full of “good works” like Dorcas? Most of us have made prayer and reading Scripture daily priorities and they are important enough that we monitor them. Yet are we as “zealous for good works” as we are for these? Evangelists are to “affirm constantly” that believers in God should be “careful” (meaning take care, concentrate upon, consider, reflect, take thought, give heed) to their “good works.” Are we as careful as Dorcas to be full of them? In the same way we flee every temptation and confess every sin, we must also concentrate on “maintaining good works”.
Jesus told us that “good works” are necessary for our salvation. “His own special people” must be “zealous of good works:”
Our entrance into the eternal kingdom will be based on our “good works” If we are not zealous for them and careful to maintain them we are “unfruitful” and “cursed of My Father.”
She shared her gifts with those who needed them. That is exactly what good works are! We take our gifts and serve our brethren with them: “according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” and “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them” (1Pet. 4:10; Rom. 12:6).
Every local church is a body of Christ filled with Jesus’ brethren. Our gifts (time, money, ability, sacrifices, etc.) must not be squandered or we will be unfruitful. We must share them with our brethren. Just as the garments Dorcas made blessed the church at Joppa, making it a happier and healthier body, so it is today. So what gifts are we ministering to those in our local church? Those who “minister” and “use” their gifts for the brethren are doing it to Jesus. Dorcas “ministered” and “used” her gifts. She was so full of good works that when she died the widows wept at her loss. Would anyone weep after our death because the gifts we ministered and used were gone? Will we be sorely missed?
Are we full of “good works” like Dorcas? Most of us have made prayer and reading Scripture daily priorities and they are important enough that we monitor them. Yet are we as “zealous for good works” as we are for these? Evangelists are to “affirm constantly” that believers in God should be “careful” (meaning take care, concentrate upon, consider, reflect, take thought, give heed) to their “good works.” Are we as careful as Dorcas to be full of them? In the same way we flee every temptation and confess every sin, we must also concentrate on “maintaining good works”.
Jesus told us that “good works” are necessary for our salvation. “His own special people” must be “zealous of good works:”
- “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. ... 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You... 40 Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Mt. 25:31-45)
Our entrance into the eternal kingdom will be based on our “good works” If we are not zealous for them and careful to maintain them we are “unfruitful” and “cursed of My Father.”
- "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; ... 45 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'”
She shared her gifts with those who needed them. That is exactly what good works are! We take our gifts and serve our brethren with them: “according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” and “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them” (1Pet. 4:10; Rom. 12:6).
Every local church is a body of Christ filled with Jesus’ brethren. Our gifts (time, money, ability, sacrifices, etc.) must not be squandered or we will be unfruitful. We must share them with our brethren. Just as the garments Dorcas made blessed the church at Joppa, making it a happier and healthier body, so it is today. So what gifts are we ministering to those in our local church? Those who “minister” and “use” their gifts for the brethren are doing it to Jesus. Dorcas “ministered” and “used” her gifts. She was so full of good works that when she died the widows wept at her loss. Would anyone weep after our death because the gifts we ministered and used were gone? Will we be sorely missed?