All men desire to do well, and most of us want to please God! But where is the boundary between faith and works? As we consider God’s promise to Abraham, we find that it was through Abraham’s faith in God that he was called a friend of God. Abraham trusted God’s words, and because of his faith in God’s plan he became aligned with God’s will. Abraham’s works were a result of his faith in God, not the other way around.
Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.(Romans 4:3).
God spoke directly with Abraham, and Abraham wholeheartedly believed what God said. This unwavering belief led him to faithfully obey God’s instructions. Abraham’s actions, therefore, were a direct result of his deep trust in God.
This trust was profound, extending even to the point where God asked him to sacrifice his son. Remarkably, God did not reveal the outcome of this test to Abraham beforehand, demonstrating the depth of faith required of him.
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. (Hebrews 11:17-19)
As men, we often chase after wanting to make God happy or even how to please God through our actions. Works are, however, the blessings of our faith. The promises given to Abraham were not because he did God’s will. No, the promise came first! The reason Abraham did God’s will was because he trusted the Lord. And he, like us, was not perfect. Our faith in the Lord is why we desire to do the will of God. My works are the outcome of my faith.
We are grafted in as children first. Then, as children of God, we seek to do God’s will. When we strive to do good things outside of faith, in our strength, we are replacing faith in God with faith in ourselves. We are living for our honor and glory and not His. We, as men, must remember that all things were created through Him, and nothing can be created without Him (Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:3). This means everything! He is in charge of the outcome of what we do, good or bad. Even our faith is wrapped up in His will. He chose us we did not choose Him.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5)
This is why PRIDE is so dangerous! When we fail to remember that God created us, provides for us, and gives us good works to do along with the rewards of those works, self replaces selflessness! This is pride at work (“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18).
For example, I tithe because of what God has done for me. My faith has got to be bigger than my wallet! God gave me the money and a job, and He then asked me to trust Him with 10% of the money He gave me. My faith allows me to tithe, and because of this faith, I am blessed—not by my obedience. Without faith, there can be no obedience!
Abraham put Isaac on the altar not for the reward of obedience, but because he trusted God with the outcome. And yes, God blessed him (Romans 4:3). For years, I considered obedience as a way of pleasing God, not realizing that it was my faith in Him that brought blessing. Like Abraham, the works that God gives me are the outcome of my faith in Him. My works are the participation of my trust in Him. It’s not by our work that we are saved!
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. Ephesians 2:8-9
Men, remember God doesn’t need us; we need Him. He is all-powerful. We only become powerful when we allow Him to operate through us. It all starts with trust!
Have a great week,
Stephen L. Thomas, RTM
