Maintaining Good Works.

“And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” Titus 3:14

When Paul told Titus to remind these folk on the Island of Crete to “maintain good works” he was saying to make good works a priority in their life. Sometimes Christians and church members forget to “maintain good works” if were not reminded often then our minds tend to wonder and sometimes to far. This is the second time in this third chapter Paul spoke of “maintaining good works” he said in verse 8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” And Paul said if we do then “These things are good and profitable unto men.” Not just to the maintainer of good works but also to other’s around us. Our good works as well as our bad works affect the way others sees Christ and the Lords church membership; therefore it is always good for the Christian to maintain good works. It is by our works that the lost world sees Christ in our hearts. James told us in James 2:18 "…I will shew thee my faith by my works." And that is by “maintaining good works” It is profitable to the Lord, it is profitable to the Lords church, and it is profitable to you the Christian in so many ways that we cannot mention them all. But with all this being said we sometime tend to look at Christians that fail in this area and wonder if they are truly saved, and that is because God said if we fail “to maintain good works” then our faith is dead. In James 2:20 it says "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" while works is not a part of salvation they are a result of salvation and when a Christian fails to live by good works they are failing to show their faith therefore allowing other Christians to question their faith. Good works can include many things and at times it can lead to sacrifice and even the “ultimate sacrifice” in James 2:21 we learn “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” Now many will misunderstand the word “justified” and relate it to salvation but that is a gross misunderstanding, the Greek word means - to render; that is, show or regard as just – Abraham showed his faith in God by offering his beloved son as a sacrifice to the Lord. This is why James concluded in verse 24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." This is why Paul concluded in Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Because Abraham was not justified in Gods sight by works but in mans sight, Abraham was justified in Gods sight by his faith. This is why Paul concluded in Romans 4:3 "… Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." God knows a mans heart but we do not, therefore we must see his works or he is justified in our sight by his works. Abraham showed his faith in God by offering to sacrifice his son allowing all the Jews around him to see. This is why we are to “maintain good works”. But not only for others to see but also “…for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” Verse 14 it keeps us from being unfruitful in this evil world. This is the only way to prevent falling into Satan’s trap of sinfulness. This is what Paul was warning us of in Ephesians 4:27 - 29 "Neither give place to the devil. (28.) Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (29.) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
Beloved your works are so important in so many ways and many of people; some whom you may not know and may never know could be impacted by your works. If you call yourself a Christian then act like it and “maintain good works” for the glorification of God and the edifying of others around us, other wise we show ourselves unfruitful.