There is Something about Doing Good Deeds

I have always admired one of a mild disposition and gentle spirit, who doesn’t need to show presence in words or abilities or looks but is quite simple and comfortable in all things concerning life and men.

Nothing seems to overcome them even in difficult times.  They are content with little or much.   They take one task at a time realizing what can’t get done today can get done tomorrow or the next.   Their focus is of one driving in a thick white fog, focusing on the here and now instead of what may or may not come.   It is not that they are indifferent or dry or highly regard of them selves- it’s just that they keep their trust in someone higher then the world and higher then anything the world might offer at a price.  

They sit looking at nothing in particular too long – not the oceans, the skies, the stars or even the pathways of men.   They quietly stand unstirred by all the affairs of life.  They walk as if listening to a lovely sympathy.  On the hot days the shade and a cool breeze brings thanks to their lips. 

On the cold days a simple fire and a warm drink is not under-appreciated by them.   They journey through life with a light grasp.  Even when wrinkles grace their face and white hair crowns their head, they still live in a warmth and quiet peace enjoying, savoring and absorbing all precious moments as if they worth more then gold.   Yes every morning they sit like a boat in quiet waters reading scriptures from their well-worn bible and then rise as if a soft wind has just filled their sails.  They aren’t like the clouds that come and bring no wind or rain.  They come with a refreshing word and perspective, which seeds the ground.  They mist, sprinkle, and pour graciously encouraging the ground to germinate and grow its fruits.  Their personalities aren’t so massive that they block out the sun or thick with pride that rays of light can never shine through.  They have sympathy and compassion and unity like a sunrise and sunset.

It is not of icy self-assertiveness or self-interest that they do this- for that would be still too bothersome of a burden for the human soul to bear.  They shed their leaves of color amongst great gratitude and sometimes sorrow.  Sweet sap drips from them in conviction as their roots continually dig deeper into God’s securing love.  When the Spirit comes over them, their hands without fail rise up like crocuses awakened from frozen ground.   The hands of heaven dry their cheeks and lift their chins like loving parent.

Many men seek such assurance and confidence in bits of silver and gold but they are continually left with a bitter taste of dissatisfaction in their mouth and a hunger in their soul.   The simpleton confounds them.  

Why is this man of long walks and humble attributes so appealing?   He has nothing really to give but offers what little he has.   He smiles with no evidence he will get any smiles back.  Why in all the hustle and bustle and uncertainty of today and tomorrow, why are you like a light that continues to shine even in the worst of storms?  Why don’t you just blow out like everyone else?  Why are you are like that salt the makes my soup malleable and sweet warm butter on my bread?      

Why do you walk as if you were experiencing one of the greatest cities in world but it’s plain and ordinary and even dismal?   You greet people as if it were a privilege but they aren't important or even famous.  Why is there a glint of encouragement in your eye when the wisest of men has said, "All is meaningless"?

It makes me think that - in the eyes of God even meaningless has a role.  What if all this hollowness, frailty, unfulfilling, fleeting whims of this world that seduce and chastise man -had a purpose? 

What has this man found that is so irreplaceable?   He has invested many hours of thought and accounted for his loses and the benefits still out weighted the losses.   He has checked his inventory everyday to see if something is missing and continually works to have a mature up to date supply.   He continually checks to see if his house is in need of repair.  

He sees his pantry of supplies is not enough for his company and himself.  He sets out for fish market and bakery to find fresh provisions.  He buys wood to cook the food and warm it.   Then when everyone eats all will be satisfied and he will have satisfaction of doing his service well.  He does this day after day just glad to be of service.

This man definitely travels a road less traveled.  What does he find there? 

Then comes the question, “Do you too highly regard your life?  Do you cherish your life more then you should?

If the soul is discouraged -could it be out of one’s self-centerness?

Do we too highly regard our life?  Would the world miss one more selfish soul?  No, of course not.   
But they might miss an unselfish one though.

The Lord Jesus said: “It is more blessed to give than receive.” Acts 20:35

Am I saying, “Does this giving score us any points with God?”  No!  Am I saying, "Good deeds get us into heaven?" No! But does giving something to someone in need do something within us to encourage us out of discouragement?

Do we too highly regard our life, our comfort, our security, our needs, our feelings, our wants and so on? But not highly regarding God and what he wants from us?

How often do you ask God what he wants from us?  Personally I know it’s far less then my requests from him.   Keep this in mind, if God wants you to do something he will give you the strength and resources and mind of Christ to do it in.

I don’t want to go down that street of guilt but I want to ask, if we are not asking God what he wants… are we really honoring God or not honoring God?  Do we really have a relationship with him at all? Are we really his body, his people, his vessels?

None are perfect at this that I know of .... yet he still puts up with our dabbling in other things.

Sometimes we even miss the entire point of life?  We can so easily point out the negatives in this life as if they are bigger then God.   We don't realize God allows us to see the negatives - so we might pray and do something by His Spirit to speak into the situation.  We don't see that we are an ear, a hand, a foot, a voice, an eye to be used by God.

Do we really love the LORD with all our heart, soul and strength? 

I am not trying to sound religious and dry and yuck! Please understand me here in your heart. 

We go to God to fulfill our needs and he does it… not always in the time we think it should happen but he does answer them…. but ask yourself does God have needs?

Does God’s body have needs?  Does the people, who don’t know him yet but who he died for, have needs?   Of course they do!  But how can they know Christ and come to Christ to be saved if we only cram God’s words into their face with no caring action behind it?

James says what?... “Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’ I say. ‘I can’t see your faith if you don’t have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds.  Do you think it’s enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror!  Fool! When will you ever learn that faith that does not result in good deeds is useless?”  James 2:18-20

We say our purpose as God’s people is to serve God and encouragement comes from God but how can we be encouraged in the Lord if we aren’t also doing and participating in the Lord’s work?  God's words need to come alive off the pages of our mind and into our daily actions.      

Are we so cared for by God that we overlook the needs of others?  Are we so cared for by God that we over look the simple blessings that we receive everyday such as clean running water we shower in, to electricity we use, the home we live in, to the comfortable warm bed we sleep in? Are we so cared for by God that we have become greedy over the things in this life? Not realizing we have far more then we need.   Why don't we share?  Do we take and take more then we give?

Why don’t we cry out "Lord what are your needs?  What are the needs you want me to help you with to help those made in the image of you?"

The reason we don’t ask is because of our own self-centerness and what little we give – at all- we think that is enough.  The reason we don't ask is because we are afraid of how he might answer us.

Self-centerness leads to discontentment and discouragement.  We get so focused on ourselves that we can’t see what God wants us to do!

The message of Christ should enrich our lives and the lives of others.   Good deeds are part of that.  It is not a self-centered message but a message of hope and encouragement.  Where the peace of Christ is ruling and filling the heart/soul to touch other people’s lives.

Self-centerness doesn’t lead to maturity in Christ- it lives and leads to the mindset of the world.

We hear we work to live or live to work but it is neither.   We serve God to live. There is where the secret of life is… there's another strategy God gives to overcome the world and our discouragement!   

We hang onto life - we lose it but if we give it to God (more then we are now) then we will discover it more fully.

If you just went to work for the paycheck, it would be meaningless but if we looked at work as… how could we make a difference in other people’s lives then “the job”… It would be a lot more fulfilling.

"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." Colossians 3:23

2 Timothy 3:1-17 New King James Version (NKJV)

Perilous Times and Perilous Men

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! ⁶ For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, ⁷ always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; ⁹ but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

The Man of God and the Word of God

¹⁰ But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, ¹¹ persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. ¹² Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. ¹³ But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Looking at this passage we can be thankful to God for these last days.  Sounds crazy but think about it….  There is to be a definite difference or departure from those caught up in the world and those living for Christ.   As things get progressively worse -God’s people, filled and guided by the Holy Spirit will have many chances to glorify God more and live encouraged in a discouraging world.

The greedy still won't give unless forced and they will still find ways to keep what they have and the giver, already be used to giving, will give freely to those in need. They will be looking out for others then themselves.

God addresses our discouragement about life when we are able to do things for others.  Instead of feeling like everything is hopeless, God puts us to work to make a difference in a hopeless world.

The Jackie Pullinger Story - Missionary to China from believe836 on GodTube.