Read Chapter 2 in Unanswered, Smoke, Mirrors and God

What is your motive behind the good things you do? Are you hoping that others, including God, will like you more or is it because you have a desire to live out your faith in God by loving others?

If your motive for doing good things to please God that would in some way tip the scale to be loved and accepted by God, you may well be wasting your time. God is pleased when we love him and love others. When we develop a relationship with Him that is grounded in trust, not performance, is what pleases God. Good works in the eyes of God, are the things you do with him and not randomly by yourself. All those “good things” should be inspired by God to bring Glory to Him alone.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15 1-5