For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
In his Little Book of Eternal Wisdom, Suso personifies God as “Eternal Wisdom” and the follower of God as “The Servant” and this small excerpt reflects a conversation between the two parties.
“The Servant: How ardently didst Thou love me, how generously didst Thou redeem me…Thou fair Wisdom, how shall I ever be in a condition to acknowledge Thy love and Thy sufferings? If I had Samson’s strength, Absalom’s beauty, Solomon’s wisdom, and the riches and greatness of all kings, my only wish would be to devote them to Thy praise and service. But, Lord, I am nothing, and therefore can do nothing. O Lord, how am I to thank Thee?
Eternal Wisdom: If thou hadst the tongues of all the angels, the good works of all mankind, and the powers of all created beings, thou yet couldst not thank Me, nor requite Me, for the least pang which I suffered for the love of thee.
The Servant: Tender Lord, inform and teach me, then, how I may become pleasing to Thee by means of Thy grace, since no one is able to make Thee a return for the tokens of Thy love.
Eternal Wisdom: Thou shouldst often set My sorrowful cross before thy eyes, and let My bitter torments penetrate to thy heart, and shape thy own sufferings after them…Let thy cry of misery rise to thy heavenly Father with a renunciation of thyself and all thy desires, according to His Fatherly will…What though thy desires may have a thirsty craving to seek satisfaction and delight in something that might be pleasant to them, yet shouldst thou forego it for My sake…thou shouldst thirst after the salvation of men. Thy good works thou shouldst direct to a perfect life, and persevere to the end…”
Henry Suso (1295-1366) in Little Book of Eternal Wisdom, translated by Richard Raby (London: Thomas Richardson and Son, 1866) 118-119.
Basically in considering the generosity of God in redemption, the Servant asks: How can I repay you? This is akin to these questions: What is the role of good works? Why should Christians do them?
Since all the good works of mankind cannot repay God for all He has done for us, Suso wisely states that devoting riches to good works has nothing to do with repaying God and everything to do with living the life God intends for us with perfection (think: with consistency) and perseverance. In other words, He redeemed us for this purpose.
Father in heaven, thanks for the salvation I have in Christ, accomplished through sorrow and suffering. Forgive me for putting my desires ahead of others, and for the times I fail to do good works because I am wrapped in my own agenda. Help me die to self, do good works that show my faith with consistency, and persevere until you return or call me home. Do this by your Holy Spirit I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.