Of Good Works, XVI:3

Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ. And that they may be enabled thereunto, beside the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will, and to do, of His good pleasure: yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.

Truly good works, in the sense that God calls a work good, do not originate from men. Indeed, they cannot, for men are unable by nature to do the works that God wills. This idea is a great offense to men, who take great pride in their charities. We compare ourselves one to another and expect recognition and reward for doing things we admire. That Christians are able at all to do good works is credited solely to the Spirit of Christ working in and through us. No one will be able to stand before the Lord on the last day and boast of anything he has done. Yet in his grace God finds gold and silver amongst the hay and stubble--gold and silver he has put there himself.

But no Christian should therefore become complacent or lazy; we are not to neglect the doing of good works, but to recognize their source and the basis of our empowerment to do them. We are not to loll about waiting for some subjective feeling that we are being moved by the Spirit to do such-and-such. Instead, we diligently search the Scriptures for our marching orders and we keenly observe our surroundings for opportunities to obey. And we pray--for direction, for guidance, for encouragement, for a good swift kick (if necessary). And in the end we protest that we are but unprofitable servants.

Tomorrow: Are good works meritorious?