I've always contended that the primary problem here is the problem of standards. By whose standard do we measure "good"? God's standard is perfection (Matt 5:48). Are any of the things we do perfect? No. Not naturally. Still, Scripture says things like, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Eph 2:10). So there is something good we can do. How do we solve this dilemma?
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17)Look at that! The text claims that every good gift and perfect gift does not originate here. They originate from the Father. Emphasize "every." If that's true, it stands to reason that if we are made for "good works," and every good thing is from above, then every good work we do is from above. Makes sense. So we don't do good ... God does it through us. The actual good we do is God's work in us. Thus, it is not our doing, confirming Romans 3:12 ... leaving us nothing to boast about.
It seems, then, that even the "good" works all people do are from God, even when not done for His glory directly. It is another example of His love that anyone does any good.
ReplyDeleteOne theme that is very clear in the Bible, from beginning to end, is that Man is not good by nature, and any virtuous thing we do is through God’s example, inspiration, and enabling (and this is regularly proven out in daily life). Even the ability to use our God-given gifts--our minds, our bodies, our skills and talents--comes from outside ourselves; none of us are self-made men or women. 1 Cor. 4:7 says, “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” Why do I boast, indeed? It’s all God’s doing.
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