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Let Your Light Shine
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson

GOOD WORKS BEFORE MEN
Matt. 5:16

INTRO: I've had to take another look at an issue upon which I have been pretty well settled for a long, long time. All of my Christian life, I've been very secretive about what I've done for the Lord. I've never talked much about the souls I've won to him, or about how much money I've given to his cause. Whatever I gave, whatever accomplishments I've managed, or whatever sacrifices I've made, I figured to be my business, and not for public knowledge. I thought I was being scriptural in this approach. The main passage I always seemed to remember was Matt. 6:1-7. This passage talked about secrecy in alms giving, and not letting your right hand know what your left hand does. I just assumed that meant hide your good works. So I generally opposed testimonials about what anyone had done in God's service, offerings where people's giving could be seen, and too much talk about personal service to God. I know that many of you have felt the same way.

Although, I've been rebuked from the word of God. I've come to realize that I jumped to a wrong conclusion; and that my understanding of God's teachings on this subject were shallow and premature. So after considerable thought, I have decided that the only honorable thing for me to do is confess the error of my thinking to you; and share with you what I have seen from the holy scriptures. I particularly want to zero in on a natural three point outline on this subject, which is found in Matt 5:16. The passage says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. "

I. FIRST, THIS PASSAGE IS DEALING WITH THE SUBJECT OF GOOD WORKS:

A. Now, I want you to know that I am not talking in this message about how to be saved from sin's penalty:

1. I am talking here about how a person should live after he is saved.

2. We need to make crystal clear that good works have absolutely nothing to do with whether or not a person goes to heaven. Men are saved "by grace through faith" Eph. 2:8 apart from their works, be they good or bad, Eph. 2:9. Not by works (Titus 3:5), but only upon the strength of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection does any person have salvation, I. Cor. 15:1-4 and Rom. 1:16.

3. So, we are talking here about what believers do after they are saved; not what lost people do in order to be saved.

B. The Bible is very explicit that the lives of God's people, the saved, should be permeated by a continuous flow of spontaneous good works:

1. You can't miss it in this text, Matt. 5:16. The God of heaven Himself is talking when he says, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works."

2. The Apostle Paul said in Eph. 2:10, that we are God's "workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath ordained that we should walk in them."

3. In I Tim 2:9-10 women are taught to "adorn themselves .... uith goodworks",- and I Tim 6.17-18 says "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. "

4. Titus 2:7 commands, "In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works." Vs. 13 & 14 of the same chapter speaks of "Our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all inquity, and to purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works". Listen to Titus 3:8, "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and Profitable unto men." Notice the continuation of divine emphasis in Vs. 14, "And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful "

C. Mister, your pick axe has struck one of the major veins of truth in the Bible once it touches the subject of good works in God's people:

1. The real champs of the Bible are those like Dorcas. Acts 9:36 says, "This woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did."

2. Christian, if you are going to shine in the economy of God, you must become a "doer of the word", and not be a hearer only, James 1:22. And, if you are a doer, good works will characterize your life.

3. That means that in your life, there must be lots of giving, lots of helping people in need, much effort to strengthen the Lord's Church, good work as an employee, good efforts with the members of your family, and in general, plenty of initiative on your part toward right causes.

II. THE SECOND THING THIS PASSAGE (Matt. 5:16) TEACHES IS THAT YOU ARE TO DO YOUR WORKS SO THAT MEN CAN SEE THEM:

A. Notice how sparklingly clear this message is in Matt. 5:14-16.

1. This text verse says, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good uorks", Matt. 5:16.

a. This verse says that your light is to "shine ". That means to be bright, noticeable. illuminating.

b. The verse also says to do it "before men", and it says do it so that "they may see" what you are doing. In fact you are to do some good works, and to specifically arrange that men see these works.

c. In fact, the two preceding verses are emphasizing the very same thing. Vs. 14 is talking about our being lights, and the fact that lights are not to be hidden. "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. " Vs. 15 is teaching that a light should be so arranged as to receive maximum exposure. "Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house."

d. The whole idea of Jesus' discussion here is that good works ought to be seen by men.

2. Now it is noteworthy that the Bible talks about men seeing your works:

a. That's who Jesus mentions in Matt. 5:16. "men".

b. He doesn't say do them so only God can see. There is no way you can prevent him from seeing. You don't have to try to get him to see. Neither does Jesus say do them before angels, devils, or monkeys. He says do them so men will see.

c. Yet, I must confess that for years I've been trying to hide most of what I have done before men. I didn't want them to get the wrong idea. I thought they'd think I was bragging, and desirous of personal glory. How I could have so consistently overlooked and ignored what Jesus taught here in Matt. 5:14-16, I really don't know; but I did.

B. Notice also some other passages that teach the same truth:

1.Remember Titus 2:7? This verse teaches us "in all things showing thyself a pattern in good works. " Folks, it says show thyself; and that is the opposite of hiding what you do. The word "pattern" is used, and a pattern is something to be seen; a model for others to follow.

2. Again, Titus 3:8 teaches the same truth. It teaches us to be careful to maintain good works; and that "these are good and profitable unto men".  Now how could your good works profit other men, if they don't even know you've done them? Obviously the only way your good works are going to profit others is for you to let your good works be known.

3. Along the same lines, James said, "I will show thee my faith by my works", James 2:18. I ask you, how could anyone know you have faith, if they don't know about your works? It may well be that some of you are thought to be weak Christians, because you have hidden your good works so well so long that nobody knows you really love God.

4. You see, Heb. 10:24 says, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." Some of you have some very excellent testimonies, and do some very good works that would uplift, encourage, and provoke other Christians to good works also; but you hide it so well that people have to drag it out of you. Your testimonies and good works are not helping provoke others and upbuild God's work like they should. The faithful works and testimonies of some saints have been the very thing that fired others up to serve the Lord better. The giving of some has encouraged others to give. One's faithfulness to die for Jesus has caused others to be willing to die for him. The generosity of some sparks generosity in others. What you are doing might be just the thing to provoke action in others, if they just knew what you are doing. The patience of Job helps you because you know his story. Paul's life of sacrifice inspires you to sacrifice because you know of his sacrifice. Daniel's trust in God in the lion's den inspires you to trust God, because you know the story. If all these good works had been hidden for fear someone might have gotten the wrong idea, that they were seeking the praise of men, etc., think what a heritage would be lost, and how many thousands down through the centuries would have been robbed of the strength these mighty stories of truth have been.

C. I tell you, fellow Christians, we need to start letting our lights shine before men:

1. They need to know about the souls you are winning to Jesus.

2. They need to know about some of the sacrifices you are making in the service of our Lord.

3. They need to see that you are spending time serving God.

4. They need to know about some of the money you are giving.

5. They need to know how you are standing up for God on your job.

6. There is no telling how much good, right activity, sacrifice, giving, soul winning, and other good works could be stimulated in others; if only they could see some good examples of good works in other Christians they know.

III. THE THIRD THING THIS TEXT (Matt. 5:16) DOES IS TELL WHEN A GOOD WORK IS A BLESSING AND WHEN IT IS A CURSE:

A. The thing that determines whether the publishing of a good work is good and a credit to the cause of Christ, or a reproach to the one publishing it, is whether or not it was done to the glory of the Father, which is in heaven, or the glory of the person doing the publishing of his good works:

1. Notice well that Jesus said that your works ought to be published so that men will "glorify your father which is in heaven, " Matt. 5:16. If your works are done and published for any other purpose than that, then all you will ever get out of that is the praise of a few men.

2. This is precisely what Jesus is discussing in Matt. 6:1-7. Some people do what they do and brag on it just to impress other men and receive the praise of men. Jesus said the praise of men is their only reward for that kind of conduct. In fact, not even too many men will praise them. Most men will scorn and resent them for their bragging, pride, and self exaltation.

3. Although it needs to be noted well that Jesus didn't teach something in Matt. 5:14-16, and then turn around and deny it in Matt. 6:1-7. No; a thousand times No. Good works need to be published, but to the glory of God, not to the glory of men. If God doesn't get the glory, then they become vain works.

B. Oh, fellow Christians, let us brag; but let our bragging be on the Lord; not on ourselves:

1. Jesus said in Luke 14:11, "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. "

2. No wonder then, I Cor. 10.31 says, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. "

3. The Bible teaches "he that goeth, let him glory in the Lord", in Jer. 9:23-24, I Cor. 1:31, II Cor. 10:17.

4. Folks, every time you can tell something that will exalt the Lord and encourage others to serve him, tell it. Every time you can do a work, and let it be known, that will get others to enter into the work of the Lord, do it, and tell about it. Every time your giving might cause others to give to the Lord, give, and let it be known that you gave. I say every time you can put in a plug for Jesus, or do something that will enhance his work, and provoke other saints to love and good works, do it. Don't be ashamed and bashful about what you do or give, as long as it is to the glory of the Father which is in heaven.

5. Just be sure that it is to His glory, and not yours, for that is what will make the difference in whether it is a help or hindrance to the work of the Lord.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"