The Bible is a multifaceted book. It is filled with exhortations, admonitions, rebukes, and encouragements. Concerning the Word of God, Paul wrote, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

The Bible is also a book full of warnings. Oftentimes passages will begin with the speaker or writer saying, “beware.” There are several things that we need to beware of in our lives. Things that can, not only have an adverse effect on our souls, but can cause us to lose them to the devil. So, this week let us consider some things of which we should beware.

Jesus taught that we need to beware of doing good for the wrong reason, that is, just to be seen of men. First, let us establish that we need to do good. Paul said that we were created for this very purpose.

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Notice, good works are not something we do once in a while, but rather, we walk in them. After all, Jesus Himself was regularly involved in good works. When preaching the gospel to the household of Cornelius, Peter said that Jesus went about doing good (Acts 10:38). Should we not strive to be like our Savior? When we do good works, our Father in heaven is gloried (Matthew 5:16). Let us not forget that good works are determined by the Word of God, not by man (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Are you involved in good works that will glorify your Father in heaven? If the answer is yes, the next question is why? What is your motive for doing the good works that you do? Sadly, there are some who do good works for the wrong reason. The main culprits of this were the Pharisees. Jesus said of them, “They do all their deeds to be seen by others (Matthew 23:5). However, they were not the only ones susceptible to this kind of behavior. Paul exhorted members of the church to beware of this behavior as well.

Ephesians 6:5-7 (ESV)
⁵ Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, ⁶ not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,

Paul warned the brethren at Colossae about the same thing (Colossians 3:22), and, by necessary inference, warns every one of us. We need to do as many good works as we can, as often as we can; but, we need to do them because we love God and truly want to help brethren, not just to be seen of men. As Jesus said, “³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:3-4).

As you wind down for the night, think on these things.