The Bible clearly teaches that doing good deeds or works will not get us into heaven. The Apostle Paul said, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

If “good deeds” don’t count as currency to enter heaven, then why bother? Why should we —

Give to rescue people from human trafficking
Spend an evening ladling food in a soup kitchen
Prepare a casserole for a recuperating neighbor
Mow an elderly person’s lawn
Coach a Little League baseball team
Help clean up a tornado-ravaged town
Sweat in the sun to build a church in Africa
Run a 5K to help fund a pregnancy center
Write encouraging letters

WHY BOTHER? 

Why use our time, energy, and money to do good deeds when our resources and time could be spent on hobbies and entertainment that would bring pleasure to us? As long as we don’t do bad deeds that hurt others, why bother with the good deeds?

God’s plan for our life includes doing good works.
Our good deeds glorify our Father in heaven.
Works of service build up the body of Christ.
We show God’s love, through good deeds rather than words.

Good deeds will not give us a pass through the pearly gates, but they are essential for a strong vital Christian life.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)
Let your light shine before others , that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
…to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up… (Ephesians 4:12)
My little children, let us not love with words or tongue; but with actions and in truth

(I John 3:18)

…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:17)

Martha Hawn VanCise©