Created To Do Good Works

You are made with a purpose. You are made to serve God by serving people. You don’t exist for yourself. The Bible says, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:10

Just like a potter makes a clay pot to hold water, just like a wood crafter works wood and nails into a chair for sitting, we are God’s workmanship made for the purpose of serving Him. We are not simply made to sit in the stands and watch the game of life pass by, we are made to get in game and make a contribution in God’s work.

If we are made to do good works, it means we are made to be a blessing to others. This, the Bible says, is what “God prepared in advance for us to do.” This is His plan for us, every one of us and not just some.

In other words, God has given you some people that you can serve, some that you are to help and care for, some that you can lead to Christ.

And the 2nd verse we read this morning - 1 Peter 4:10 says “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

We are all given certain gifts so that we can bless others, and we are to be faithful in doing that. Since God made each of us unique, you do not need to compare yourselves with others, or copy what others are doing. You are different, but you are given some gifts and you need to do something with them.

When you compare, you can sure find someone doing a better job than you, and you’ll be discouraged. Or you’ll find someone who is not as good as you, and you become proud. Either way, God is not pleased.

God made us different so that we can contribute to His work. When everyone contributes and we complement one another, His work is done. We are to be diligent and faithful in doing this.

We love God and we want to serve Him. How can we serve a God who is unseen? We serve God by serving people.

Every time you serve someone, you are fulfilling God’s plan in your life. Jesus himself said we are to serve others “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” (Matt 20:28)

A pond will become stagnant when it takes in water but does not give any out. We call it the Dead Sea. When a Christian keeps receiving bible knowledge (biblical input) but has no outflow of ministry – not doing anything to reach out and touch lives - his spiritual life will stagnate.

God expects us to be doers of the Word. This is clear in the parable of the Samaritan man. The person, who pleases God, is not the one who knows what is right – like the priest and the Levite, but the one who does what is right – the Samaritan man. It is comfortable to just know and not do, because to do requires sacrifices. But the Bible says, “Faith without deeds is useless.” (James 2:20)

Anyone can serve God. You do not need a diploma or a degree to serve. You just need a heart of love.

Whenever you see a need right in front of you, God is giving you the opportunity to practice serving. Anytime you have a need, it is obvious - somebody needs help. God is giving you the opportunity to learn to serve, to learn to be more like Jesus Christ. Jesus once took a towel and a basin of water, and began to wash the disciples’ feet (John 13:4-5), because the need was obvious.

If you see that someone has a need, at school, in your office or here in this church, guess what? God is giving you the chance to practice serving – to “do the good works which He has prepared in advance for you to do.”

Illust: NO UNIMPORTANT ACTS OF SERVICE

Several years ago two teenage boys tried to come into a church service at night, but it was packed and they couldn’t find any seats. So they turned around and decided to leave.

But one usher saw them and called them back, “Come, let me find you a seat”. And that usher personally escorted them, down to the centre and set them in the middle and found them two seats.

That night both of those boys accepted Christ and became Christians. One of them was Billy Graham, who became an evangelist and led many to Christ.

There are no unimportant acts of service in God’s logbook. His records include the smallest acts of service to the largest ones, all done for His glory. The Lord says, “I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:41). God takes note of even the simplest deed.