Doing Good for God 预备作善工
Dexu Xia
Remind the people . . . to be ready to do whatever is good. Titus 3:1
Though he didn’t normally carry money with him, Patrick sensed God was leading him to tuck a five-dollar bill in his pocket before leaving home. During the lunch hour at the school where he worked, he understood how God had prepared him to meet an urgent need. In the midst of the lunchroom buzz, he heard these words: “Scotty [a child in need] needs $5 to put on his account so he can eat lunch for the rest of the week.” Imagine the emotions Patrick experienced as he gave his money to help Scotty!
In Titus, Paul reminded believers in Jesus that they weren’t saved “because of righteous things [they] had done” (3:5), but they should “be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good” (v. 8; see v. 14). Life can be full, extremely busy, and hectic. Attending to our own well-being can be overwhelming. Yet, as believers in Jesus, we’re to be “good-works ready.” Rather than being overwhelmed by what we don’t have and can’t do, let’s think about what we do have and can do as God helps us. In doing so, we get to help others at the point of their needs, and God is honored. “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
By: Arthur Jackson
What can hinder good-works readiness in your life? How can you reorder your life to be available for helping people who are in need?
Dear Father, please forgive me for the times I’ve ignored opportunities to do good. Help me to be more available to help others.
你要提醒众人，⋯⋯预备行各样的善事。—提多书3章1节
德恩在学校工作，在一般的情况下，他出门都不会带现金。然而，这天他觉得上帝引导他在早上离家之前，把一张5元美钞塞进口袋里。当他在学校吃午餐的时候，才知道原来上帝是要他帮助一个有迫切需要的学生。在学校餐厅的吵杂声里，德恩听到有人说：“克强的餐费余额不足。他必须存5块钱到帐户里，这个礼拜才有午餐吃。”你可以想像，当德恩用那5块钱帮助克强时，心里会有多大的触动！
在提多书里，保罗提醒众信徒，虽然他们得救并不是靠“自己所行的义”（3章5节），但仍然应该“常常留心作善工”（8节，参见14节，新译本）。生活可能总是充斥着忙碌和扰攘，单单自己的事已经让我们自顾不暇。但身为基督徒，我们要随时准备作各样美善的事。与其总想着自己缺乏什么或不能做什么，不如想想，藉着上帝的帮助，我们具备什么与能做什么。当我们这样做时，我们可以在别人需要时帮助他们，而使上帝得荣耀。马太福音5章16节，说：“你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。”
作者： 简恩德
在你的生活中，有什么会妨碍你随时
预备作善工？你如何调整生活的优先次序，
使你能腾出时间帮助有需要的人？
亲爱的天父，请祢饶恕我曾经忽略作善事的机会。
求祢帮助我能准备好，随时向人伸出援手。