For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10
“Do everything for the love of God and His glory without looking at the outcome of the undertaking. Work is judged, not by its result, but by its intention.”
Padre Pio of Pietrelcina (1887-1968) in A Dictionary of Quotes from the Saints, ed. Paul Thigpen (Charlotte: TAN Books, 2001) 126.
I hope you like the header photo. I made it safely to Alexandria. It’s so peaceful on the Mediterranean today.
In this post, Padre Pio explains why we must focus on good works and not results or outcomes. It reflects how our work will be judged by God. He looks at the intentions of our hearts.
But why not look at outcomes?
When we do, we tend to fall into the sins of control, idolatry, and pride. These are the three sins Jesus avoided after fasting in the wilderness and before His ministry began. We do well to follow His example and practice fasting while focusing on faithful activities with good intentions because only God can control outcomes. If we think we can, then we take control, trust in the power of money rather than God to make things happen, and our efforts are driven by pride.
If that was too heavy, consider this. The world looks at results while God looks for righteousness. The world demands outcomes while God calls for obedience.
Why is this important? How does this relate to generosity?
At the NABLA meetings which start today, Adel Azmy, Ereny Monir, and I will serve leading church ministry workers from all across Egypt. Our aim is to help set them free from thinking that they need money to make ministry happen and that success is defined by results. Instead we will help them grasp that faithful activities related to program administration and governance is the only way to position a ministry for fruitful outcomes, which we leave up to God.
Furthermore, in my opening plenary tonight, I will urge them to be faithful stewards who follow biblical standards to build trust, to grow local giving, and to preserve God’s honor before a watching world. This is our witness and what positions ministries for sustainability.
Want to dig deeper? Read the slides or watch to this GTP webinar where my colleague, Ereny Monir speaks on “Consider what God expects of us and the organizations we steward.”
And whatever you do, wherever you are, make this your intention: do good works by deploying your giftedness and resources generously and trust God to take care of the results.