Titus 3:8
This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Paul told Titus two times to maintain good works. The first time he says, be careful to maintain good works. The second time he says, learn to maintain good works. Apparently, maintaining good works is critical for Paul to be so adamant about maintaining them. Now, Paul tells Titus to be careful about maintaining these good works. To be careful about something is not to let up or to keep as a high priority the maintaining of these good works.
You cannot maintain good works if you are not doing them. Many watch good works being done, but they are not involved in those good works. Everyone in the church ought to be doing the good works of God together. We could spend time telling what good works are, but I want to focus on maintaining good works. The word maintain carries several definitions that tell us how to maintain good works.
First, to maintain good works means to continue good works. In other words, don't stop doing good works once you start them. Keeping spiritual momentum in good works is critical to maintaining them. Once you start doing good works, you must keep doing them if these good works will continue in your life. A church that wants to continue to grow must keep doing what brought the initial growth. Therefore, you must maintain those good works to continue to grow. Likewise, the believer must continue doing what brought spiritual growth if they desire to continue growing.
Second, to maintain good works means to keep in good condition. In other words, keep the good works from getting out of repair. The best way to keep something in good condition is to continue nourishing it. You keep good works in good condition by walking with God in the Scriptures and praying. Reading God’s Word and praying are daily tune-ups to keep the good works you do for God in good condition.
Third, to maintain good works means to support good works. You cannot expect good works to continue without financial support to keep them going. Good works cost money, and you cannot maintain good works without financial support. Many good works have ceased in churches because people stopped giving, and the lack of finances has forced pastors to cut out good works to the death of that church. When you are financially involved in supporting good works, you will likely be physically involved in those works, and your heart will also be involved in those works.
Fourth, to maintain good works means to defend good works. Don't let the critics attack good works without you defending these works. Believers should stand strong for the good works of soul winning, preaching, holiness, restoring the fallen, and growing ministries. All it takes for good works to cease is for God’s people to stay silent when these good works are attacked. Be a defender of good works so we can maintain the momentum these works are doing in people's lives.
Fifth, to maintain good works means to perpetuate good works. Train others to do good works so that these good works don't die when you go to Heaven. Perpetuating good works through training the next generation to do them is critical to good works continuing in your church until Jesus comes.
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