Good Works Related To Helping Our Brethren
(Galatians 6:9-10; Philippians 2:3-4; 1 John 3:16-18)
1. We can attend services, including Bible classes. According to Hebrews 10:24-25, this is one way to “stir up love and good works.” We encourage our brethren when we’re here; we discourage them when we’re not.
2. We can give words of encouragement to those who teach, who lead singing, who lead prayer—especially young people (or recent converts) who have just started doing these things.
3. Whenever we see or hear of someone doing something good, we can commend him or her with a letter, phone call, e-mail, or we can do so in person. This can keep them from growing “weary while doing good” (Galatians 6:9).
4. We can encourage those who have recently obeyed the gospel (note example of Barnabas--Acts 11:22-23).
5. We can encourage those who seem to be discouraged—for whatever reason. This can be done in person, with a phone call, letter, e-mail, etc. We find out about such things by spending more time with each other—talking with them after services, going to get-togethers, having people in your home, inviting others out to eat, etc.
- “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad” (Proverbs 12:25).
- “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24).
6. We can encourage those who are lonely, who maybe don’t have the companionship that some of us enjoy. Sometimes the best thing we can do for them is listen.
7. We can visit those who are sick or shut-in, or we can call them or send them a card. If they need things done while they are sick, we can volunteer to do those things.
- Remember the words of Jesus: “…inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:40).
8. We can “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). If someone loses a loved one, we need be there for them. Cards can be sent, food can be taken, and we can make sure we’re there for the funeral.
- “Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus” (2 Corinthians 7:6). How many times has God comforted you by the “coming” of one His people? Let’s be the one He uses next time to comfort someone else.
- Relieving the afflicted is one of the “good works” mentioned in 1 Timothy 5:10.
9. We can obey James 1:27, which says, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
- Dorcas is a good example of someone who “visited” widows (Acts 9:36-39).
- In helping widows, we shouldn’t try to make them feel helpless, but we should keep in mind their situation and try to encourage them in any way we can.
10. We need to understand the importance of doing the seemingly “small things.”
- “And if anyone gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because He is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42, NIV).
11. If any of our brethren should go astray, we should seek to restore them as soon as possible (Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20). Let’s not wait until they have completely fallen away before we take action.
- “There are souls who linger on the brink of woe, Lord, I must not, can not bear to let them go; Let me go and tell them, brother, turn and flee, Master, I would save them, here am I, send me” (“There Is Much To Do,” #693, Songs of the Church).
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can”—John Wesley.
“Each day I’ll do a golden deed, by helping those who are in need, My life on earth is but a span, and so I’ll do the best I can” (“A Beautiful Life,” #9, Songs of the Church).
“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4).