There are a number of Bible verses that clearly indicate that God’s plan for each of His children includes following Christ’s example of doing “good works.” This mandate is so foundational to the Christian life that it could be said that it is part of the DNA of every Christian. In Jesus’ last instructions to His disciples before the Cross (John 13-17) He talks about them bearing “fruit that will last.” Christ spent His life exemplifying what it means to produce this lasting fruit, and Paul, in Galatians 5:22 refers to the fruit of the Spirit as including kindness and goodness (in some versions “goodness” is translated as “generosity”).
Several Bible verses speak to this issue:
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
“I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:35-36,40
“And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” Matthew 10:42
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper Bme we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9.
“18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” Timothy 6:18-19
What is common to these verses is the imperative obligation of God’s children to do good works—to be rich in good deeds. I have thought about this so much that has become an daily “alert” for me to identify and act on it whenever God puts me in the path of someone in need.
