Thinking you can do it on your own is not being free
By good deeds,
good works,
being nice,
being kind,
all those are valuable attributes
but if done in the flesh, in other words, to try to be a good human,
they mean nothing in The Kingdom of God.
There are scriptures about us doing deeds
and they are called filthy rags
The most important thing is to realize and accept the gift of salvation
By adding to it, or trying pay God back by doing good deeds,
you will get nowhere.
That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t show kindness and other wonderful attributes, what it means is to keep in mind that He lives in you and through you
and as He directs you,
as He asks you
or puts something on your heart,
be obedient and do what you will out of love for God,
a joint venture,
not out of obligation or to gain favor from a human being
Without Him we can do nothing.
That is from John 15:5 and it is specifically talking about works that benefit the Kingdom of God: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
When I was young, I learned the difference between obligation, obligatory works and the works or yokes that other people put on you, works that we do that someone else thinks we should do. These are different from works that the Lord quickens is to do, the works unto God, done in faith, that please God.
If you look back on your life,
you will most likely be able to see the difference
between obligatory works for a human
or to receive some sort of a reward or recognition from a human
and the works done in faith,
where you have done something,
maybe even something you didn’t want to do in order to please God.
Or to put flesh to death
Maybe you forgave a terrible offense
or loved your enemy
or helped someone when it wasn’t convenient to do so
because you knew God would be pleased with you
and you were demonstrating God’s love toward that person.
You may have even forgotten by now, but God hasn’t forgotten.
So? You may wonder, what is the harm in doing obligatory works
or doing good things for others?
This is the potential harm:
If you are so bogged down doing good works,
helping others all the time,
those can interfere in your relationship with God.
To Him, obedience is better than sacrifice.
If you are so busy doing,
you may miss out on what He is wanting to do in your life.
I cannot tell you the answer to that question,
only God can reveal that to you.
Nobody else.
Just keep in mind that walking with Him daily,
dying daily is a type of work
where we can be available to lead others to Him,
Being sensitive to God in where we put our time,
efforts, money, and prayers are all
helping His kingdom in ways we are not aware.
If we are constantly doing these obligatory good works,
well, we might be missing heavenly opportunities.
It can be difficult to separate them
and only the Holy Spirit can reveal that to you.
The things you have done,
because someone else wanted you to serve them
or manipulated you into doing something,
unless you have done that unto God and with His leading,
it will not benefit the Kingdom.
It may make you a willing and appreciated servant of that person though.
Don’t get caught up in obligation
It’s actually quite liberating if you can distinguish the difference
You can actually still do things for that person who thinks of you as a servant, such as for a boss or a demanding neighbor,
or for the widow, for example. as the scriptures tell us care for.
but, instead, do those works unto the Lord
where it will benefit your heart and the Kingdom of God
and where you will gain true riches.
Jesus said when you pray don’t sound a trumpet like the hypocrites.
In other words, don’t do things to be seen of men.
That will be your reward,
but do things unto the Lord and you will have His reward.
It will also free you from obligation and expecting anything in return.
He will repay you and honor you and reward you.
Be free in the Lord, to serve the Lord, the way you were created to.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Psalm 100:2
Scriptural References:
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:1-6
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. John 9:4