But to do good and communicate forget not, with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Hebrews 13:16.
The word ‘communicate’ means (a) to share with other people in the way of helping or assisting them no matter how little it is in quantity, only let it be charity out of a pure heart – moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 2 Corinthians 8: 1-2: (b) and to be opened handed or being generous – there is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. Proverbs 11: 24-25: (c) to be considerate of the people we’re more better of than they, this includes distributing to the necessity of saints in the church, given to hospitality (Romans 12:13) and not limited to helping the poor people in the world who are not in the church – only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. Galatians 2:10. As we have opporunity, are we not commanded to do good to all men, especially the people of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10.
The believers in Christ Jesus are God’s instruments or workmanships in Christ Jesus for good works. Whatsoever they become in life or possess as blessing is for the purpose of good works, that by their good works, others may glorify God in heaven. Ephesians 2: 8-10.
A good tree cannot produce a diferent kind of fruit, much more a child of God should not be mean, selfish, heartless, cruel, stingy and not considerate of others. Goodness is one of the fruit of the spirit. We are to grow and increase or abounding in every good works. Learn how to be careful to maintain every good works. Rich in good works. Filled with all goodness. Live and walk daily in good works. Made perfected and established in every good works. Being fruitful in every good works. Men do not gather figs from thorns, nor from the bramble that they can get a bunch of grapes – by their fruit you shall know them – O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, thou art my Lord: my goodness extended not to thee, but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. Psalms16: 2-3.
Just as the king David asked, is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness? 2 Samuel 9:3. There is none that is good but God. It should be the overflowing and extention of the goodness of God in us which should be running down to others as we reflect and manifest the compassion of Christ – put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness. Colossians 3: 12.
Believers in Christ Jesus are indebted to do good, and never to stand in any evil matter. The goodness of God in us endures forever, its therefore our obligation and duty to do good – to him that know how to do good, but does not do it, commit sin. James 4:17.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it. Say not unto your neighbour, go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give it; when you have it by thee. Proverbs 3: 27-28.
This text speaks against the oppression of the poor. Take notice of the word ‘by which it is due’! Who are the people to whom help is due? (a) when labourious service is rendered unto us, we should not delay to pay for the hire of the work done for us, the labourer is worthy of his salary: (b) not be reluctant or postpone giving material or financial assistance when you have what it takes to relieve the oppressed, widows and the fatherless, needy and the afflicted in their affliction: (c) our parents are always due for financial assistances and whatever helps, and services until their death: (d) people who have once helped you in the past, but they are now in trouble, looking up to you for help because you are now the blessed of the Lord, should be helped: (e) if you are blessed, able to cancel the totality or parts of the debts of your debtors, you should do it, whether they ask or not.
The motive behind our sacrifices of good works should not be to receive the praise from men, though they show appreciation, our primary work is to point them to God, and though they are ungrateful, we should not be offended, or grieved: it is to the Lord they’ve been unthankful.
Greatness in God’s sight is not the man or woman sitting at the highest table, it is credited to men and women of humble services rendering good works to others for Christ’s sake, even as the Son of man came, not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life as ransome for many: whosoever shall be great among you should be the servant of all.
Is a believer not the light of the world, and salt of the earth? Therefore, the conduct and evaluation of a believer’s life, his admission or rejection into the glorious kingdom of heaven shall be based on the failure or fulfilment of his personal responsibility, conducts, care and attention given to his brethren and others while on earth as the representative or ambassador of Christ. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Hebrews 6:10. James 2: 14-26.
As the good Samaritan doesn’t discriminate against the man who fell into the hands of the thieves to help him, such should be the sacrifice of our good works towards the strangers and the people that we know. The Lord shall hold each and every one of us accountable for every act of selfishness, tribalism and wickedness shown against the poor and needy around sent to us. Those shall be punished and rejected by the Lord for their inconsiderate attitudes when they refused to feed the poor, if they have what it takes to feed them – clothed the naked, put roof on the head of the homeless or lodge the strangers, an act of hospitality and to visit the sick and the prisoners in the hospitals or in prison – then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for when I was hungered, you gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal – this shall be the verdict and judgement of conscious, but unwilling and irresponsible brethren from the Lord. Matthew 25: 41-46.
During his period of trial and suffering, Job made a diligent and critical search of his integrity and righteousness before God (my righteousness I hold fast and would not let it go, my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live. Job 27:6); to see, if he might at least know, the root and cause of his sudden calamities, to justify the visitation of divine judgement, but could not found any reason or personal fault – If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; for from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb: if I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone. Job 31: 16-22.
According to the old proverb, wickedness proceeds from the wicked. 1 Samuel 24:13.
In God, there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. The wickedness of the wicked will not work against the expression of the goodness of God from the life of his children. The spiritually broken believers are never overcome by evil, they are not weary of doing good (Galatians 6:9), but they persistently overcome evil with good works (Romans 12:21): whosoever reward evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house (Proverbs 17:13): Therefore, if your enemy hunger, give him food to eat: if he is thirsty, give him water to drink for in so doing, thou shall heap coals of fire upon his head and the Lord shall reward you. Romans 12: 19-20.
People may have wrong perception of our good intention, but we are expected to have a good conscience; that whereas, men may speak of us as of evil doers, that they might be ashamed that falsely accused our good conversation in Christ Jesus in the day of visitation. Sometimes, we expressed regret for helping someone because we experienced pain and trouble, for it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 1 Peter 3:17.
Are the believers not God’s peculiar people, zealous of good works? Titus 2:14. They should always be ready for every good works and find something good to do always for the Lord. Is it not written, every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire? Like wise shall all their good works, done in secret or openly shall not go unrewarded – for this reason shall their right hand should not know what the right hand has done, neither shall their left hand be made aware of what the right hand has done. They should not proclaim their own acts of goodness done for others, rather, they should leave it for others to praise them, and not their own mouth, a stanger, and not their own lips, lest their goodness become a condemnable and punishable sin of arrogant shown before God.
Are there not bad and churlish men and women in the church even as Nabal, the husband of Abigail was? First, in Christ Jesus, the good works is an indicator that our works are wrought in God – the testimony of our conducts, that we are good person in Christ Jesus. Acts 11:24. Second, their is no any other way to fulfill the scriptures demanding us to lay up treasure for yourself in heaven, where no thieves can steal and moth nor rust does not corrupt. Matthew 6:19-20.
Generous man devises generous things, by the generosity and goodness of God shall he live, both here and hereafter. Isaiah 32:8. Were Cornelius forgoten for his almsdeed and good works with his prayerful life style before God? But God sent an angel to visit and recompense him, giving him instructions for his salvation. Wasn’t it? Acts 10:1-4.
Our goodness should be according to our means, ability or opportunity. It should not be beyond our power, not of necessity for vainglory – if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man has, and not according to that he has not. 2 Corinthians 8:12. As children of God, each of us has a measure or some measure of materials to work with, little or much, for unto whosoever little is given; little shall be required of him: and unto whomsoever much has been committed, much shall be required of him.
The righteous gives according to their means and spares not. Proverbs 21:26 b. You will need a wedding garment, right, when you shall be with the Lord for feasting at the banquet hall for the marriage supper with the Lamb, where do you think that your wedding garment is coming from? For an exchange and reward, those good works and labour of love on earth shall be converted as your wedding garment for the marriage supper of the Lamb when the bride shall be clothed in fine linen, clean and white for the fine linen is the righteousness – good works of saints. Revelation 19: 6-9.
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive, if you have given according to what you personally determined, not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7.
It is more blessed to give than to receive, if you are generous with the abundance received from God to help others – there is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. Proverbs 11: 24-25.
It is more blessed to give than to receive – when you give to the one who begs from you (if you have it at that moment), and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. Matthew 5:42.
It is more blessed to give than to receive, if you do not recompense to no man evil for evil. Romans 12:17. If you do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. Do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind to unto the unthankful and to the evil. Luke 6: 33-35.
It is more blessed to give than to receive, for God that gives bread to the eater, and seed to the sower, shall multiplied your seed sown, and will increase the fruits of your righteousness – give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure you mete withal, it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6: 38. 2 Corinthians 9:10.
It is more blessed to give than to receive – when you make a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours (he that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.Proverbs 22:16); lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:12-14.
It is more blessed to give than to receive – was the mother of Esau and Jacob (Rebecca) not married to Isaac by her goodness and kind hearted, fetching and giving of water to the servant of Abraham and his camels by the well, just as Abraham servant prayed to God for a kind and generous heart should be Isaac’s wife? Genesis 24:10-21.
It is more blessed to give than to receive – was not the widow of Zerephath rewarded and preserved from famine and death because she obeyed the word of the Lord as she first prepared some little cake from her remaining flour for the man of God, and as the result, her barrel of meal does not waste, neither her cruse of oil fail according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah. 1 Kings 17: 8-16.
It is more blessed to give than to receive- giving will not undo and make us poor: if we do good with what we have for God’s honour, we shall receive more to do more good with – is the seed yet in the barn? Yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you. Haggai 2:19.
It is more blessed to give than to receive – was Dorcas not resuscitated back to life, delivered from the power of early grave because of her usefulness and charitable works in the early church? Acts 9:36. And the centurion, the good hearted man, was well spoken of before the Lord by the elders of the Jews who implored the Lord to intervene in his favour to raise his dead servant dear unto him back to life? Luke 7:1-10.
The beloved Prophet Bernard Jordan of Zoe Ministry from New York, in one of his precious, timely and annointed messages wrote thus and I quote….Emmnauel, “I don’t think about financial success as a measurement of my success.” Christie Hefner said these empowering words. Emmnauel, as a financial leader, you are responsible for assuring that goods are able to circulate. If our resources stay in the same place for a long time, the economy will become stagnant, and there will be an imbalance in the society in terms of wealth. Some people underestimate the importance of having goods circulate. They would rather hoard everything to themselves, in fear that they will be on the losing end if they give some of their wealth to others who might need it more than they do. The problem with hoarding everything to yourself is that at some point, you won’t know what to do with all your riches anymore. Your over abundance will no longer serve productive purposes for you. It is forcing you to either keep them stagnant such that they benefit no one, or to spend them on unnecessary, wasteful, or even detrimental things. Part of knowing how to use wealth properly is also knowing when to give some of this wealth away, so that others can use it for more productive purposes……goods should be allowed to circulate, not only so that your wealth can benefit those who will receive it, but also so that you can become more open to receiving different forms of wealth as well.
The good work is not to intimidate or manipulate others while helping them. If any of our good works and acts of kindness should be acceptable before God, it is required to be done in godly simplicity – He that gives should do it with simplicity. Romans 12:8.
Is it not a sacrifice unto God, though it is given to man? The beneficiary should be implored to receive the gift or accept our service from a willing and cheerful countenance.
In the world, the receiver is found or seen as he that should beg because he is in need for help. In the kingdom, the giver should be the one to earnestly plead before the receiver to accept his gift or service, and such is the way to offer the sacrifice of God in good works – Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia. How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; PRAYING US WITH MUCH ENTREATY that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.2 Corinthians 8:1-4.
And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he – Christ made as though he would have gone further. But they CONSTRAINED HIM – begged, that though he has options, he should do them the favour, make them happy, consider their offer of hospitality, saying, abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. Luke 24: 28-29.
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, if ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she CONSTRAINED (strongly supplicated and persuaded) us’. Acts 16: 14-15.
And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and bowed himself with his face to the ground; and he said, behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, nay; but we shall abide in the street all night. But he PRESSED (to employ with urgent persuation, never boast or threatens them of any danger if they should sleep in the street) upon them greatly’; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house: and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. Genesis 19:1-3.
And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou was pleased with me. Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he URGED (advocated earnestly the gift before the receiver) him, and he took it. Genesis 33:11.
And it fell on a day that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she CONSTRAINED (insisted-not accepting refusal) him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. 2 Kings 4:8.
There should’nt have any reason or purpose whatsoever to be arrogant or to exalt self above others for all that Christ has done, and will continue to do in and through us. We are just an instrument, if we don’t do it, God will use someone else, better than us to accomplish his will, to do what we refused to do properly. Where in the scriptures could our boastings be found, and for what purpose are we seeking for the praises of man apart from the self-commendation from God? And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. Colossians 3:23-25.
The sinlessness and righteousness of Christ life, and eternal sacrifice of his death on the cross, effectuated our deliverance, imputed righteoussness and justification to bring us back to God. No good work from any can replaced it or given in exhange for it. It cannot in any way be compared, equalled and parallelled to whatever goodness that is in us, or whatever sacrifice we thought to make or services we thinks we have rendered or contributed to advance the kingdom of God.
In Christ dwells all the fullness of God. There is nothing to fill up or to complete in the sacrifice of Christ by any of the good works of service to him or to our brethren, except that in him and by him are our righteousness and good works: without Christ, our good works are like the filthy rags, which shall not be washed by the blood of Christ, and purified by the Holy Spirit, therefore, such are wasted and unacceptable acts of good works before God. Romans 15:16.
Our righteousness, goodness, kindness, victories and triumphs are Christ’s. Christ is our benefactor in all things pertaining to God. We should constantly be in reverence, humble and worshipful spirit and homage, to admit always, as we are instructed to say after we have done all that are commanded us, to acknowledge and confess to our unworthiness before him that works all things in us according to the pleasure and counsel of his own will, working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight, that we are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do! Luke 17:10.
The conception or perception of our giving and generosity or any act of goodness to a beleievr or unbeliever should be as an offering and sacrifice to the Lord – fruit that may abound to your account. Philippians 4:17.
But to do good and to communicate, forget not – this is not referring to telephone conversation. The communication here is to be generous, kind to other with what we have, willing to share, ready to distribute to the necessity of the saints just like the brethren in the early church sold their possessions, and parted them to all men, as every man had need- this is sacrificial giving, this is to deny ourself of what is not so uregent for us, to satisfy the need of others. Acts 2: 44-45.
It is not permissible to live selfishly in the kingdom because we are called to be our brother’s keeper. He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. We should not hoard the goods of the kingdom entrusted to our administration for selfish or personal use, for that will bring us closer to the condemnation of the unprofitable servant. We should not withhold the corn from others and be blessed in the resurrection of the just – whosoever withholds the corn, the people shall curse him. Proverbs 11:26.
It is an admirable and appreciative labour of love in the sight of God for the administration and distribution of the provision in our care for the care and for the necessities of the saints in the exercises of our faith in expectation of the entrance that shall be ministered unto us abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 5-11.
Discrimination is a sin in the kingdom of diversities of people from different culture, languages, colour and backgrounds. Brethren should endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Tribalism and ethnicity diffrences should not be the factor, question or problem in doing good to all but preferential treatment and help should be first given to the believers (household of faith) as we prioritized the need of the poor brethren in the kingdom…for the Lord has founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it: as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially them of the household of faith. Isaiah 14: 32. Galatians 6: 10.
Love perceives a need and reaches out to meet it and does not wait for a call or any man’s approval before he does what is good and right. If any public appeal is made, he does not hesitate if it is in the power of his hand to do it – but whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelled the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but indeed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 1 John 3: 17-19.
There are three spiritual duties, disciplines, exercises for all and sundry in the kingdom as taught by the Lord (a) prayer (b) fasting and (c) the giving of alms. Matthew 6:1-7: 16-18.
Giving is divided into two parts, namely, giving to God your tithes and offerings, and giving to whosoever you see in need, and giving to the poor beggars in the street – almsgiving. Matthew 23:23. Alms giving is a powerful tool with prayers, an effective and fruitful way to produce fast delivery response with answer from heaven -he that shut his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry (pray) but shall not be heard. Proverbs 21:23.
There is power in almsgiving for healing and for divine coverage of health insurance with quick recovery from sickness as reward – blessed is he that considered the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. Psalms 41: 1-3.
Almsgiving is considered as a loan to the Lord and it shall be repaid with interest and multiple blessings from him – he that has pity upon the poor lends to the Lord; and that which he has given will he pay him again -he that gives to the poor shall not lack: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse. Proverbs19:17: (28) 27.
The early believers and apostles of Jesus Christ practised and lived in constant almsgiving (Galatians 2:10) as a way of life, and God remembered and commended and rewarded Cornelius for his much alms which he practised (Acts 10:1-4): the Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice. Psalms 20:1-3.
THE FUTILITY OF GOOD WORKS WITHOUT HOLINESS IN THE PURSUIT OF HEAVEN