If ‘doing good’ does not equate to ‘preaching the gospel without words’ (for the gospel cannot be preached without words!), why is it imperative that God’s people should be ‘eager to do good’ (Tit 2:14)?  Why must we ‘not grow weary in doing good’ (Gal 6:9)?

1. Because we love God, and want to be obedient to his command to do good

‘By this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments do not weigh us down.’ (1 Jn 5:2f)

2. Because we love our neighbours

When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, he replied:

Mt 22:37-40 “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Not only so, but our Lord radically redefined ‘neighbour’ to mean even our enemy (Mt 5:43-45).

3. In order to show the world God’s character and work

In order to give the world a powerful confirmation that ‘God is love’ (Mt 5:16).

Our good works point to the goodness of God, and provide a powerful incentive for people to come to him.

4. Because they are the fruit of the Spirit’s work in us.

‘You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.’ (Mt 7:16-20)

Good works are not the root of the tree.  They are not the ground or basis of our standing before God.  But they are the necessary and inevitable fruit of salvation.  The lives of all true believers will be marks by the fruit of the Spirit: ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.’ (Gal 5:22f)

Truly, ‘faith without works is dead’ (James 2:26).

‘For we are [God’s] workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.’ (Eph 2:10)

5. In order to win a hearing for the gospel

Caring for physical needs and spiritual needs both come (or should come) from a deep love for the other person.  It is only as we neglect God’s concern for the whole person, or as we see the gospel as something we are trying to ‘sell’ to a reluctant buyer that we fall foul of God’s intention.

Let it was said that good deeds are important in themselves, even if not accompanied, or followed, by a sharing of the gospel.  But we must never lose sight of the fact that a person’s eternal well-being is more important, ultimately, than his temporal well-being.

Based on: Kevin DeYoung, Greg Gilbert. What Is the Mission of the Church? Crossway. Kindle Edition.