New Testament 192

New Testament 192 July 1, 2015

 

Ancient Israelite lamp
An ancient oil lamp

 

Luke 11:33

Compare Matthew 5:15; Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16

 

“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a bushel, but on a stand, that those who enter may see the light.”

 

There is a tension here.  The Lord repeatedly tells us not to do good works in order to be “seen of men,” but we’re also told to “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

 

Are these two commandments contradictory?

 

In my judgment, plainly not.

 

And here’s the difference:

 

We’re to do good works, yes.  But not so that people might glorify and admire us.  Not in order for our sheer wonderfulness to be seen.  Rather, so that, in seeing whatever good works we manage to do, people might glorify God.  They should see the life of Christian discipleship and say, “I want that.  I need that for myself and for my family.”

 

It’s not about us.  It’s never about us.  Whatever we may sometimes imagine.

 

Posted from Newport Beach, California

 

 


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