Faith | Why does a child of God ‘do good’? Our motive brings reflection
Your mother carries you in her womb for months.
She births you, feeds you (for years), changes about 2,309 (of your) poopy diapers, helps you to stand, crawl and walk.
She keeps you out of the street and away from light sockets (usually), teaches you phonics, manners, math and washes your clothes. She wipes your tears, listens to your losses (both in “love” and in sports), drives you everywhere, gives you wise counsel (whether you know it at the time, or not), bails you out (when you didn’t know you were sinking — and sometimes when you did), and prays for you (even when you aren’t looking).
But then ... the other day she asked you to make your bed! Plus, last week she wanted you to take out the recycle, and unload the dishwasher.
Do you then say, “Wait, why me? Why that? C’mon, mom?!”
Or, do you do the thing asked, promptly, with pleasure; gratefully, without grumbling? Indeed, as a child of a loving mother, why wouldn’t you respond in kind, with kindness?
My mother recently celebrated a significant birthday, close enough to “Mother’s Day” for me to reflect on the matter of motivation for “doing good”— whether to mothers, or to others.
Honestly, what drives my desire to honor, obey, and serve?
In the process, what fruit finds expression in my word and deed; what marks my movements: The gears of guilt? The folly of fear? Personal pride? Other?
Let’s say a son (whatever age, 7, 27, 57) offers his mother a gift of bright flowers, to which she exclaims, “Oh, how lovely! Why did you do that?”
What if the son says, “Because I had to, Mom, it’s Mother’s Day.” Or, “Because if I didn’t, I’d feel guilty.” Or, “Because I want you to love me more.”
Thud.
Can you feel the love in any of these replies (gifted flowers notwithstanding)?
Akin to the inquiry: Why does a child of God do good?
It turns out this question of motive carries millennia of reflection, as saints, sinners, and sages have sought to sort out both why and wherefore. After all, if God is good, and his law is good, yet we break that law, then how can anyone do good, let along be good?
Good question.
As one good answer goes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).
That will do. Good! Talk about motivation! Because while I am made for good works, my works do not save me from sin; only the goodness and good work of Jesus can do that.
Since I need good works to please God, and I lack those good works, Jesus gives me his works, earned at the cross; faith given sees that Jesus was obedient for me.
This moves me emotionally, even as his Spirit moves me to live like a child of God who truly has moved from guilt, to grace, to gratitude, to offering works that actually, and actively, are received now as good.
My mother’s sacrifices surely exceed the ladened list offered above; and this year’s gratitude found expression in flowers, dinner with jazz music, and a new Keurig.
Yet, as I consider the sacrifice and work of Jesus on my behalf, my renewed heart keeps finding ever new expressions of gratitude. Of course it does. God’s goodness makes me glad to do good.
Rev. Dr. Craig P. Davis is minister at Grace United Reformed Church in Kennewick. Questions and comments should be directed to editor Lucy Luginbill in care of the Tri-City Herald newsroom, 4253 W. 24th Avenue, Kennewick, WA 99338. Or email lluginbill@tricityherald.com.
