By Grace, Not Works

 

David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.  Romans 4: 6-8

There are three pillars of Lent; Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.  Almsgiving is really just another name for charitable giving. Alms comes from a word that means pity, while charity comes from the Latin word “caritas”, that means love.

Giving to charity is showing caritas, love, for our neighbor just as Jesus told us to. St. Francis of Assisi said, “In giving we receive.” This is very true. When you have love for someone, and you give to them something in love, it is better than any gift you could ever receive.

I believe that giving of time and money can be easily lumped into works.  With that in mind, we have to be careful that we are not giving and doing for the wrong reasons.  What I mean to say is, we should never give or do with the mindset of how good it makes you look to others or by publicizing it for our own gratitude.  In addition, we should not give or do to prove anything to God or to look for a reward.  The scripture tells us that God credits our righteousness apart from our works and while he wants us to give and do in love, we need to exercise caution.  Our motive should be purely love, not to gain the praise of man or for the purpose of getting an OK checkmark from God. 

This passage from Matthew sums it up:

Matthew 6:1-4 concerns giving to receive praise from others:

 ” Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.  “Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

As a Christian, you are saved by the grace of God, not by your works or gifts.  God’s grace is a gift and there is nothing that you can give or do to earn it.  It is freely given. Your gifts of time and money wrapped in love and humbleness will be found pleasing to God and besides, that is what we are called to do every day, not only at Lent.

Father God, let us not wander down the path of “what I give” or “what I do” is the way to your heart and to our salvation.  Let us rest on the fact that we are saved by your grace, and grace alone.  Open our eyes to see the need around us and let us move in love and not out of duty or obligation.  Amen.

Bryan Holmes