Good Deeds

“God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground”. – Genesis 1:28.

It is a good thing to be fruitful. After God created the earth and filled it with vegetation and plants, Genesis 1:11-12 tells us God took note of the plants and trees being fruitful, and He was pleased with what He saw. That’s why scripture records that “And God saw that it was good”.  No farmer wants to have a farm you laboured to clear the land, prepare the soil, fill with manure, plant your crops, water the crops tirelessly and regularly, only to discover that your farm is filled with nothing but dry, dead plants. Your barns and baskets are empty during harvest. Fruitfulness fills you with joy because you see the product of all your labour. You are happy because it is clear that you haven’t wasted your time and efforts. This was exactly how God felt when He saw the plants and trees He created bearing fruit. It brought great delight to His heart to know that He had not labored in vain.

God knew the joy He had from seeing the plants and trees fruitful was nothing compared to the kind of joy He would derive from seeing man who is created in His own image and likeness being fruitful. Fruitfulness in plant life translates to more vegetation and food for man. But fruitfulness in a man’s life, means more food for God. God can’t eat the oranges, apples and grapes the trees produce, nor can He eat plants like wheat, tomatoes and rice. But He can smell a sweet aroma of worship and praise (Genesis 8:21), He can enjoy a sacrifice of praise which is the fruit of the lips of those that call on His name (Hebrews 13:15).

Fruitfulness brings about increase; it adds to or multiplies what you already have. When God created man He said be fruitful and increase in number. God wasn’t seeking for just one man in one little corner singing praises. God was seeking millions of worshippers. This was why God released the blessing of fruitfulness as He created man. So all over the earth, there would be men and women from every tribe and language praising His holy name. Revelation 4:11 says “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being”. We have been created to give God glory, honor, power and praise. Right from creation, God put the seed of fruitfulness in us so we increase the number of people that are giving Him glory and praise. Psalm 67:3-4 buttresses the point that God is seeking people from all nations to sing His praise. “May the peoples praise you O God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth”. As people from every tribe and language rise to give God praise, we experience increase, fruitfulness and a bountiful harvest. The curse of fruitless labour is wiped away from the land we dwell.

A good deed increases the number of people that give God praise. A good deed is a seed on the inside of you that when that seed manifests, it gives someone a reason to praise God. Matthew 5:16 says “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”. If someone’s child is about to be thrown out of school because he hasn’t been able to pay the school fees and God uses you to provide the money for the fees, the person will praise God with so much intensity. The person will probably say things like ‘Lord, I didn’t know this is how involved You are in my life. I praise You for not putting me to shame. I praise You for making a way where there seems to be no way’. God becomes very real to this person. The person may also share this testimony in church or with other people. As the testimony is shared, it’s no longer just one person praising God for His divine intervention, but more and more people.

Can God count on you and I to increase the number of people giving Him praise; to be a person filled with good deeds? The times we live in make it hard for one to help or bless people but we shouldn’t allow what is happening in the world derail us from our original purpose. We have been created to be fruitful; we have been created to bring about an increase, to increase the number of people worshipping the only True and Living God. Just a little good deed here and there, makes a whole lot of difference. It gives someone out there a reason to give God praise. It makes God real to someone.

PRAYER:

Father, let my light shine bright for Christ. Help me so my light doesn’t grow dim or is put out. Let all those seeds You have planted me; all the good deeds You have put inside of me manifest, so people You bring my way will have reasons to give You glory, honour and praise.

PHOTO CREDIT: creationswap