My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
"WORKS" IN SAINT PAUL’S WRITING
Saint Paul uses the term "works" extensively in his epistles (letters), and we encounter his use of the word especially in Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians. By the term, he means human activities which he generally classifies in two categories:
(1) DEAD WORKS: These are (a) works which are evil, such as murder, adultery, idol worship, and robbery. These the Holy Scripture also call "works of the flesh" [Galatians 5:19] and obviously condemn. But, in addition, dead works are (b) works–EVEN GOOD WORKS–DONE FOR THE WRONG REASONS. These are the works which are good in themselves, such as FASTING, GIVING MONEY (ALMS), AND FEEDING THE POOR, BURE DON TO CALL ATTENTION TO ONESELF OR TO GAIN STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY. SELFISH MOTIVATION turns good works to dead works. (The solution to this problem is not to cease fasting, giving or helping but TO TURN FROM THE SIN OF SELF-GLORIFICATION.)
(2) LIVING WORKS: These are deeds which are both good in themselves and done for a good purpose: TO GLORIFY GOD. Good works the Holy Scripture commend. The Holy Apostle Paul teaches they are AN OUTGROWTH OF OUR SALVATION WHEN HE WRITES, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" [Ephesians 2:10]. They CONTRIBUTE TO OUR FAITH, as the Holy Apostle James teaches, "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only [or alone] (James 2:24). When we do LIVING WORKS, WE SEEK TO BRING GLORY TO GOD, NOT TO OURSELVES, THROUGH WHAT WE DO, AND WE RELY UPON THE STRENGTH AND THE GRACE OF GOD.
Some have erroneously understood Saint Paul, particularly in Romans 4, to be condemning works. A careful reading of Romans, however, reveals that Saint Paul is NOT putting down works in general, but DEAD WORKS. Saint Maximus the Confessor, writing in the 7th century, states clearly the view of the Church concerning dead works:
"Many human activities, good in themselves, are not good because of the
motive for which they are done. For example, FASTING, VIGILS, PRAYER, PSALMODY
(THE SINGING OF HYMNS), ACTS OF CHARITY, AND HOSPITALITY are by nature good.
But when performed FOR THE SAKE OF SELF-ESTEEM, (VAINGLORY, SELF-
GLORIFICATION) THEY ARE NOT GOOD. In everything we do, God searches out our
purpose to see whether we do it for Him or for some other motive… right purpose.
For God’s judgment LOOKS NOT AT THE ACTION, BUT AT THE PURPOSE BEHIND
THEM."
Thus, the Orthodox Christian actively cultivates a habit of doing good works FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, AND AS A WAY OF LIFE. The writing of the Holy Apostle Paul are clear. If we are joined to Christ and cleansed from the dishonor of the past, we become "A VESSEL FOR HONOR, SANCTIFIED AND USEFUL FOR THE MASTER, PREPARED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK" [2 Timothy 2:21]. God sets us apart to Himself so we will be productive and useful to Him.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, " Saint Paul tells the Corinthians, "BE STEADFAST IMMOVABLE, ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD, KNOWING THAT OUR LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN IN THE LORD" [1 Corinthians 15:58]. (Source: The Orthodox Study Bible)
Personal comment. The evil one who constantly seeks to trick us will use our weaknesses to tempt us and commit sin. One of the many weaknesses that we as human beings possess is vainglory. In the Greek language it is called KENODOXIA [κενοδοξία] (empty glory). Saint John Climacus writes: "Vainglory is a change of nature, a perversion of character, a taking note of criticism. As for its quality, it is a waste of work and sweat, a betrayal of treasure, an offspring of unbelief, a harbinger of pride, shipwreck in port, the ant on the threshing floor, small and yet with designs on all the fruit of one’s labor. The aint waits until the wheat is in, vainglory until the riches of excellence are gathered, the one a thief, the other a wastrel."
The evil one and adversary knows how frail man’s ego is and takes advantage of it every time. He is able to convince us through thoughts (logismoi) that our actions are noble and that what we do is done out of piety and good will. That we have a gift and we are using this gift to serve others but in reality it is to enhance our self esteem. We want others to praise us and to glorify us. We are blinded by our pride and deceived to see that we are used by the evil one to succumb to sin. People in general are always hungry for praise, flattery, and honor. As Christian, however, we need to remember that what we do or contribute should always be for the glory of God and not ourselves. If we are praised by someone to say to him or her, don’t praise me, praise God.
Nothing that we possess is ours but a gift of God. We all have abilities, talents, intellect, and charisms but they were all given to us from our Creator to help others in the Name of God. The Holy Apostle James writes, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights" [James 1:7]. As "Father of Lights", God reigns over both the visible and invisible creation. He is Creator of all and the Giver of spiritual gifts. Then everything that we have that is good is a gift from Him. Thus, we ought to be thankful always for His blessings and the abundance of His gifts to us.
The Christian must never be boastful or proudful but to instead be humble and give glory to God Who endowed him or her with so many good talents so as to serve humanity by bringing joy, peace, and comfort to it. This is how a believer invests the talents that God has given him or her. "For to everyone who has, will more be given, and he will have in abundance; but from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away." What the Lord simply promises, if you use your gifts with diligence and practice, there will be a reward, and a return on your investment. Our talents will be multiplied like a small gift of loaves and fishes which can feed a multitude of people. We hear at the Divine Liturgy "Thine own of Thine own we offer to Thee, in all (time) and for all" (kindness to us.)
The fact of the matter is that we have nothing of our own to offer to God: "Every good giving and every perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of Lights" Everything we have we have received from God: "What have you that you did not receive?" (1 Corinthians 4:7). This is why we say in the Divine Liturgy, "we offer to Thee, Thine own from Thine own." Therefore, it would be incorrect to say that the bread and wine we offer to God are "our gifts." The very air that we breath comes from Him. Let us, therefore, offer true thanksgiving to our God and Creator.
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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 