Jump Start # 791

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.”

We continue our look at expectations—what God expects from His people. God expects us to be strong. God expects us to be faithful. God expects us to be obedient. God expects us to worship Him.

Today, we consider, God expects us to be righteous influencers. Our passage, taken from the sermon on the mount, identifies what God expects of us in relationship to the world. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world…” and “You are the salt of the earth.” You are! God expects this from you.

Everyone, good or bad, has a sense of influence about them. It seems the stronger the personality, the greater the leadership skills, the more important the roles we play all impact others. Everything about us has the potential to influence. Music, style of clothing, books, friends, internet—these all have the potential to impact us in a positive or negative way. Hanging out with people who have sour attitudes will likely make us sour. Hanging out with those who are crossing the border of right and wrong will encourage us to cross those borders. Bad language often comes from being around those who are proficient in using bad language. The upside of influence is the teacher, the coach, the parent, the friend who took time and shared with us life lessons. They encouraged, they strengthened and they built character. They made us to be better people.

Our passage identifies some valuable points about influence.

First, light is visible and attracts. Light shines. People see light. Jesus expects us to be visible. The anonymous goodness a person may do has a place, but God expect us to be seen. Let your light shine. People are going to see you. The same light that attracts some, blinds others. Some do not like light. Paul reminded the Thessalonians that we are a people of the day. Some are not. This has nothing to do with clocks and time of day, but rather things that are good and things that are bad. Let your light shine.

Second, Jesus says, “in such a way…” That implies there is a right way and a wrong way. Let your light shine in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father. The goal and the end of the good that we do is so that people will connect with God. The good works are leading people to God. In the end, it is not we who get the praise, but God. That’s the hard part of all of us. It is so easy for the doer of good to be the receiver of the praise and the compliments that may follow. When this happens, God is left out. We are viewed as nice people or a good guy who helped out a fellow man. Nice, but God is left out.

The “in such a way,” has a lot to do with how we conduct ourselves, what we say and the manner in which we shine our light. There is a way that leaves God out. There is a way that draws the attention to us. There is a way that makes us think more of ourselves than we ought to. “In such a way,” can lead to pride and self righteousness if it is not right. Shine your light in such a way tells us that we must be mindful of how we are doing things and the impressions it leaves upon others.

Thirdly, Jesus says, “that they may see your good works.” Works are things that we do. Works are things that make a difference in the lives of others. Works are more than thoughts. Works are more than nice plans and hopeful ideas. Works are doing things. Works are rolling up your sleeves and spending an afternoon helping someone move. Works are showing up unexpected with some food for a family that is going through hard times. Works are improving the lives of others. Works takes effort. Works take time. Works are often not one and done but instead, with some, long and involved. People are noticing your works. People see you doing things for others. People recognize the good that you are doing. Visible. Busy. Doing.

Finally, and most important of all, from all this, they glorify your Father who is in Heaven. God gets the credit. God gets the praise. God is worshipped. What we say when we are doing our good works enhances this or covers this up. Our attitudes. Our words. Our motives. These all tie in with God getting the praise or the praise going to us.

Do good to all, Paul told the Galatians. Go and do the same is what Jesus said at the end of the parable of the good Samaritan. Our faith is a “doing faith.” It is a blue collar, roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, doing religion that is about helping others. Some have turned Christianity into a white collar, thinking man’s religion. For them, thinking, discussing, debating, talking is what it’s all about. In so doing, nothing gets done. No works are done. Just a lot of talk. That’s not what God wants. That’s not what God expects. Shine that light. Do those works. Give glory to your Father. Also note that the tone of this passage is toward the disciples. This is something that they would do on their own. Some have lost that. Some have to tie everything they do through the church. They have to put labels on all that they do. They especially love the word, “ministry.” They add that word to whatever they are doing, and get funded, approved and noticed by the church. So there are bike-ministries, cooking ministries, camping ministries…just about any word you can think of, there is a ministry connected to it. This is missing the point of this passage. The church doesn’t get the praise, God does. These good works are done by the goodness of our heart, not as an outreach program from the church. They are funded by the individual, not the church. Some have to make everything big and glamorous. When Jesus talked about giving a disciple a cup of cold water to drink, He was not thinking that the water was purchased and supplied by the church. He was not thinking that there would be a cold water ministry. It was nothing more than one person giving a thirsty person a drink of water. That’s all. Can’t we simply do what Jesus said? Go and shine for others.

Everyday presents opportunities for us to engage in the principles of this passage. Some are huge and you can’t miss them. Others are small and you have to keep your eyes opened to see them. Every day. There about you in the office are opportunities for you to shine and help others. In the neighborhood, even today, there are opportunities. In your family. Among those in the church. Opportunities to help others are all around us. “Do gooders” is often viewed as a criticism, by those who hate Christianity. Actually, it is a compliment. We are doing good. We are engaged in good works. We do this because Jesus wants us to. God expects this. The good you do may lead one to becoming a follower of Jesus.

I’ve known some that have helped pay for college for those who couldn’t afford it. I’ve known a family who helped pay for the funeral for someone’s family member. I’ve seen food taken to new neighbors. I’ve seen people lending others their cars. I’ve known people to spend the night sitting in a hospital waiting room with someone who had a loved one in ICU. Good things. Visible things. Big things. Little things. Godly things. Doing things. Light shining.

Look around, I expect you’ll get the chance today to do something.

Roger