Romans Chapter 4

It is very easy to think that just because we have done more work for God, we would be “more righteous” than the other, who though they believe in the same God, chooses not to be as active in service to God. We may not show it blatantly but we will find subtle ways to ‘expose’ our good works to others – so that they will see and know what we have done – and think of us as righteous.

But is this how it works?

This thought came to mind as I read the first few verse of Romans 4:

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? ² For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
~ Romans 4:1-3 ~

Paul asked the question about the forefather, Abraham.

Abraham was a man of many good works. While in Ur, Abraham was possibly surrounded by people who were worshippers of the moon goddess – which was the main god then in that land. So God called him to go to a land far away. He did not hesitate but trusted in God and responded to His call.

Imagine – no map. No GPS. Just instructions from God to leave Ur to go to a land he had never seen or heard before. But Abraham trusted God to lead him there and fulfill His promises. So Abraham is one person acknowledged as a man of great works.

But Paul admits that if Abraham was righteous because of his works, then, perhaps, there is something for Abraham to boast about.

This is very often the way of the world isn’t it? People measure your worth by the things you have done. They decide how good you are based on your actions. And we all craft things to work in our favour to show that we are someone of substance. This may explain why so many people choose to ‘brand’ themselves on Social Media, professional networking platforms like LinkedIn etc where all achievements – big or small are meticulously exposed to the world.

This may be how it works with and before men. But it certainly does not work before God!

We all know God looks at the heart and not at the outward appearance and performance. He knows behind the ‘show’ we put on, whether there is selfishness, greed, self-centreness, ruthlessness, malice, envy etc. God sees all the manipulation and scheming that goes behind it all. And all our performance is just in vain before God.

The passage Paul was quoting from in verse 3 (³ For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”) was taken from Genesis Chapter 15.

And what happened in Chapter 15? God appeared to Abraham and showed him the stars in the heavens and said that his descendants will be as many as the stars in the heavens.

Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

And interestingly enough in James 2:23, where Elder James quoted the same verse as in Gen 15, there was an additional phrase…

²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
~ James 2:23 ~

When Abraham believed in God, not only was it accounted to him for righteousness, he was also called a friend of God!

So let us watch our works before God.

Do we do it as a show only or does it truly show our belief in God?

Putting on a show for man only lasts for a while. And will not stand the test of time.

But the righteousness that comes from God – this is the one that is lasting and will work for all time.

May our works before God be right like Abraham.

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