Good (Works) Life

Everyone wants to live well. Unfortunately everyone also seems to have a different idea of what the "Good Life" is. While the world clamours for public holidays and early retirement plans that involve sitting around the house all day and practicing being discontent, God has actually set the example for us of what the elusive Good Life really looks like.

Service. Working for the good of others. After all, what is God doing every day but working for His glory and our good? What Christ did do every day of His life and death? The scriptures say that we are God’s workmanship, “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do” (Eph 2:10). I, along with every other Christian, was saved to do good works, to serve.

I see these “good works” as using the resources God has given me to serve others faithfully and joyfully. Anything I have to give is a resource, from my time to my library to my dish washing abilities. My resources are different from yours, and our obedient service will not look exactly alike. You might be able to serve by packing away stacks of 10 chairs on a Sunday. Unfortunately my resources do not include superhuman strength.

One way I can serve is through hospitality and the opening of my home. Not only is this commanded (Heb 13:2; Rom 12:13) but it is something I feel particularly called to. The sounds of many voices chattering and laughing, and the smell of roast chicken bring great joy not only to the guest, but the hostess as well.

Doing good works is not always easy, though. Service requires sacrifice. Perhaps the greatest and most precious resource I have at this point in my life is my time. How easy it would be to only ever do things that are quick and immediately pleasurable!

Things like teaching Sunday School, visiting old age homes, cleaning up after church, and organising book wouldn’t happen. How wonderful that God commands us to do things that not only bless his people, but also bring Him praise.

Yes, I want to create and serve, but I don’t want to be just a generic person doing good things. And I don’t mean that I’m aiming to do good works specifically as a young person. I won’t be young forever. Youth is not a core part of my identity. What is permanent and much more fundamental is my femininity. God created me a woman, and a woman I will always be.

Back in the garden of Eden, God gave the man and the woman each glorious work to do. Eve was made to be a helper for Adam, to complement and complete him. She wasn’t an extra or an afterthought, unimportant and inferior. But she was different. She was beautiful. She was the glory of her husband. And she had glorious work to do. Sister, you and I have glorious work ahead of us - today and everyday. This is how, by God's grace, I pray to live.

Alongside my brothers and sisters – and someday my husband – I want to work towards fulfilling the first command God gave to humankind: to fill the earth and subdue it (Gen 1:28), and make disciples of my nation and every nation upon the earth (Matt 18:19-20).

I want to join the great generation-to-generation privilege of raising children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Welcoming young Christians to the world and showing them the beauty of Christ's love. Caring for older believers' needs as a little sister.

I want to be practicing all the parts of making a home, so that I can create a beautiful and welcoming space wherever I go. A place of fruitful industry and laughter and love, and the song of the Gospel. And these are only few of the privileges God has given to women to do.

I want to cultivate a heart that is reverent and compassionate, humble under correction and eager to learn. I want to see my values embodied in the work and fruit of my hands. I want to be and do all this so that God’s name may be honoured and I may enjoy Him in His glory forever. This truly is the Good Life in Christ.

Soli Deo gloria