What’s All This Talk About Good Works Anyway?

In his letter to Titus Saint Paul writes, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.” (Titus 3.8,14)

There has been a lot of talk about good works and charity in our Church because of words such as these from Saint Paul. Many often ask, “So what are good works?” The answer can be different for different people. Some suggest that good works is always being nice to strangers. Others teach that making sure the Church expenses are always paid is doing good works. Still others suggest that good works is helping the poor. Based upon these words by Saint Paul we could say they are all correct.

Saint John Chrysostom offers us this answer. To maintain good works “is both to succor the injured, not only by money, but by patronage and protection, and to defend the widows and orphans, and to afford a refuge to all that are afflicted.” In fact, this is the work of the Church if we are to live as Christians. Chrysostom continues, “What means, ‘that they be careful to maintain good works?’ That they wait not for those who are in want to come to them, but that they seek out those who need their assistance.”

Let us head the words of Saint John Chrysostom when he says, “For in doing good actions, it is not those who receive the kindness that are benefited, so much as those who do it that make gain and profit, for it gives them confidence towards God.” Now let’s get out there and get to work!