We all know various philanthropists (e.g. Bill Gates, Rockefeller, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Warren Buffett, etc.) and those who are involved in social organizations meeting various needs.  Take Danny Thomas for another example and his good work establishing St. Jude’s children’s hospital.  Because of their good works, many assume these folks are drawn closer to God because of their efforts.  But the truth is, “good works” often keeps folks from knowing God and being used by Him.  It’s because self-prescribed “good works” is often a substitute for personal repentance and sacrifice of independence to the living God.  The things that are right, noble, and good from the natural standpoint are the very things that keep us from being God’s best. Once we come to understand that natural moral excellence opposes or counteracts surrender to God, we bring our soul into the center of its greatest battle. Very few of us would debate over what is filthy, evil, and wrong, but we do debate over what is good. It is the good that opposes the best. The higher up the scale of moral excellence a person goes, the more intense the opposition to Jesus Christ.

Our sin nature manifests itself in various ways, one of which is substituting good works for genuine repentance of sin and giving up our rebellious independence before God.  I think we would be amazed at how prevalent these sin nature “good works” are.  We believers must be careful not to substitute “good works” for Christ’s command: “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.  Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Je cannot be My disciple”. (Luke 14:26-27)  My prayer for you and me this morning is this:  Lord, we want to be wholly dependent upon Your will and way in our lives and not substitute our own “good works” for being obedient servants of Yours.  May this be the message we preach to ourselves and to unbelievers who need to come to You without merit…just pleading for Your grace and mercy.  Amen.