PROVOKED TO GOOD WORKS

TUESDAY 14 MAY 2024

In the Bible, we have been given many instructions and encouragements on how to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. One of them makes today's topic. Let's see how the right influence from the godly around us is extremely important to our motivation for good works and faith actions. 

Reference: Hebrew 10:24 World English Bible (WEB)

'Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works.'

To 'provoke' here means 'to motivate' one another. The NLT used the word "motivate." And it reads, "Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works." When you are motivated by another, you're stirred up to do good works as a result of hearing or seeing them do it.

The Bible says, 'we are created for good works', as God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10 ESV). To be positioned for Kingdom good works, firstly, we must born again. Secondly, we must be passionate about the things of the Spirit. Thirdly, we must consider how to stimulate one another to demonstrate God's love in the right manner, which entails producing good deeds that God has prepared for us to do, bearing in mind that we're ordained beforehand to practise good works and manifest in them.

Let me start with testimony sharing. Testimonies are important in fellowship meetings. When brethren testify of God's goodness, they inspire others to position themselves for more of God's goodness. This is because, when they hear shared testimony, they're provoked to act on the Word for themselves, trust God in the process, and get similar results based on the Word. That means, testimony sharing provokes the listeners to good work.

You can also be provoked to good work by winning souls because you're in contact with someone or group of people who win souls. You can as well preach the gospel in certain places where darkness prevails, because you're provoked to save them from eternal damnation. That's being motivated to good works. You may be found in the company of people doing the wrong things or going the wrong way and you are provoked to get them in the right direction. To instantiate this verity, Act 17:16-17 (ESV) reads, "Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there." For fuller details, kindly read Acts 17:16-34 (NKJV).

Many a time, people are provoked to give more to the work of God, especially when the principles of giving big in the house of God are taught and expounded. For instance, in Solomon's benediction according to 1st King 8:61-63, he uttered, "And may you be completely faithful to the LORD our God. May you always obey his decrees and commands, just as you are doing today." After uttering the blessings upon the Israelites, the king Himself and all Israel with him offered sacrifices to the LORD because they were provoked to good works. In a nutshell, Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the LORD, 22,000 bulls and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD." 

It is quite significant that King Solomon offered 22,000 fattened bulls, which are specifically mature male cattle. From the standpoint of biblical learning, they are twice the price of a young regular cattle. And a regular cattle is priced at 12.5 shekels in those days. So you can imagine the worth or cost of 22,000 bulls offered to the Lord at one go, apart from 120,000 sheep. These figures are of paramount importance because they were overtly recorded to provoke the people of God to good works, especially in the house of God. And I can imagine someone upgrading the amount of their financial offerings in the house of God from today onwards. Hallelujah!

The people of God can be provoked to strive for excellence in their endeavours, to arrive early at work place, and to attain greater heights, because they have been in the company of those who practise such, and so they're challenged by their actions to succeed in meeting up with the same results.

Paul once said, "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you" (1 Corinthians 14:18 ESV). The aim of his utterance was to provoke and motivate the saints he was addressing at that point to step up their desire for "praying in tongues" and advance to meet up with his challenge (as by increased effort or improved eagerness). Remember that he mentioned it earlier in verse 5 of the same chapter, that he wished that all of them could speak in tongues.

Once you are provoked to good works, you must rise up and take the corresponding action because mere provocation doesn't automatically guarantee that you'll take the required action which will give rise to the right result. It is the same thing as hearing the Word of God. You must act on the Word you hear, otherwise you will only be edified and strengthened without having any better results. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Romans 2:5-11;Hebrews 13:16; Titus 2:7,14; James 1:22; Titus 3:8,14; 1 John 2:17.

Guided Prayer:

Precious Father, the meditation and pedagogy of your Word strengthen me for good works. As the Word shapes me in Christ's image, I walk in the right path which your Spirit guides me on and my actions reflect your perfect will for me. My life is a daily expression of your purpose and I provoke others to good works, in Jesus' Name, Amen!