Zealous for Good Works
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Our whole heart can be to praise
1 Corinthians 14:12 KJV:
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts [spiritual matters, spiritual things], seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
What are those spiritual matters that we are to be zealous for? Chapters 12–14 deal with the manifestations. In Chapter 14 it is especially about prophecy. Chapter 13, the meat of this sandwich, shows us that everything must be in love. Love is so crucial, and Chapter 13 is one of the greatest chapters in the entire New Testament.
What does it mean to “seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church?”
“Seek to excel” means to abound or overflow. I think of a child practicing catching a football. He does it over and over, seeking to excel at it.
We’re to excel at edifying or building up on the inside. Seek that you may abound to building up the church. We can actually do this; we can be zealous for spiritual matters.
Ephesians 2:10 APNT:
For we [are] his own creation, who are created in Jesus Christ for good works, those [works] which God prepared previously that we should walk in.
God has actually prepared the works for us to walk in. That’s astounding! There are personal works for us, but there are also works for all His children to do. There are always good works. The manifestations of the spirit are one example. Holding forth the Word. Anything that is loving could be considered good works.
Titus 2:14 APNT:
Who [Christ] gave himself for us, so that he could deliver us from all wickedness and would purify for himself a new people who are zealous in good works.
Here, the idea of “zealous” means that we are uncompromising or “totally committed,” as you see in the New Living Translation.
Titus 2:14 NLT:
He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
Zeal includes the idea of focus and its radical. You zero in on something.
What are some of the works that every believer could be zealous of?
Prayer.
Colossians 4:12–13 APNT:
12 Epaphras greets you, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, laboring at all times for you in prayer, that you would stand, mature [ones] and complete [ones] in all the will of God.
13 For I witness about him that he has great zeal for you and for those who are in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.
Prayer for others is something that we can all do.
Giving.
2 Corinthians 9:1–2 APNT:
1 Now concerning the service of the holy [ones], it would be excessive if I wrote to you.
2 For I know the goodness of your mind and because of this, I boasted of you to the Macedonians that Achaia was ready a year ago and your zeal has excited many
2 Corinthians 9:2 NLT:
For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving.
This kind of zeal is enthusiasm. It has an eagerness about it that stirs up others. This whole chapter (2 Corinthians 9) is about giving. Giving your heart to the Lord first. We purpose in our hearts to respond to God’s goodness and everything He’s given us in Christ. Our hearts respond to His giving, and we honor Him by our giving.
Thanksgiving.
2 Corinthians 9:10-12 APNT:
10 Now he who gives seed to the sower and bread for food will give and will multiply your seed and will increase the fruit of your justification [or your righteousness],
11 so that you may be enriched in everything in all simplicity [generosity], so that thanksgiving to God is completed by way of us,
12 because the work of this service not only supplies the needs of the holy [ones], but also increases with much thanksgiving to God.
The person receiving is thankful, but also the person giving is thankful because their needs are met.
2 Corinthians 9:13–15 APNT:
13 For on account of the trial of this service, we glorify God that you have subjected yourselves to the acknowledgment of the gospel of Christ and [that] you have shared fully in your simplicity with them and with everyone.
14 And they offer prayer for you with great love, because of the abundance of the grace of God that is concerning you.
15 Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
“God is the first mover and we’re the first responders.” —Houk Hitchcock
Because of God’s goodness, we respond with giving enthusiastically.
Service.
It’s not drudgery. Our whole lifestyle can be based in service.
Romans 12:1–2 APNT:
1 Therefore, I beg you, my brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy and acceptable sacrifice to God in reasonable service.
2 And do not imitate this world, but be turned the other way by the renewal of your minds and distinguish what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
This whole section has wonderful acts of service that we can do.
Romans 12:10–21 APNT:
10 Be compassionate to your brothers and love one another. Prefer one another in honor.
11 Be diligent and not lazy. Be fervent in spirit. Labor for your Lord.
12 Rejoice in your hope. Endure your trials. Be steadfast in prayer.
13 Share toward the need of the holy [ones]. Be compassionate [to] strangers.
14 Bless your persecutors. Bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with [those] who are rejoicing and weep with [those] who are weeping.
16 And what you think about yourself, also [think] about your brothers. And do not think [with] a proud mind, but associate with those who are meek. And do not be wise in your own mind.
17 And do not repay anyone evil [things] for evil [things], but be diligent [zealous] to do good [things] before all men.
18 And if it is possible, according to what is in you, be at peace with everyone.
19 And do not avenge yourselves, my beloved, but give place to anger, for it is written: If you will not perform judgment for yourself, I will perform your judgment, says God.
20 And if your enemy is hungry, feed him and if he is thirsty, give him drink and if you do these [things] to him, you will heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Do not let evil [things] overcome you, but overcome evil [things] with good [things].
Heaping coals of fire on his head is taken from Proverbs.
Proverbs 25:21–22 KJV:
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
There are many ideas about what this means. We need to let God be the judge. There are personal works that God has prepared as well as works for all his children such as the manifestations of the spirit. They are always GOOD works to do. What are some of the things we can focus on and be committed to doing?
It was a symbol of the finest generosity. We are to go the extra mile with no expectations of them changing because the Lord will reward us.
Praise.
Hebrews 13:15 APNT:
And by way of him, we should always offer up the sacrifices of praise to God, which is the fruit of lips that give thanks to his name.
Some of the good works that we can be uncompromising on and totally committed to are prayer, giving, thanksgiving, acts of service, and praise.
Hebrews 10:24:
(NET) And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works,
(KJV) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Scripture References
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from The NET Bible® Copyright © 1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.netbible.com. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188, USA. All rights reserved.
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