The document explores the significance of faith and actions in the context of biblical teachings, emphasizing the importance of doing God's will and living a life of love. It discusses various scripture passages, including those that highlight virtuous behavior, the futility of worldly pursuits, and the call to follow Jesus. Ultimately, it prompts reflection on how one can actively contribute to God's work and love others beyond mere words.

1. Useful Mothers
doers of God’s will

3. Matthew 12:46-50
While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and
brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.
Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are
standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my
brothers?”
Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and
my brothers.
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my
brother and sister and mother.”

4. Proverbs 31:15, 28-29, 31
She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her
family and portions for her female servants.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also,
and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her
works bring her praise at the city gate.
Is the Proverbs 31 wife and mother virtuous because of her faith in God?
Why does she do what she does?

5. Hebrews 11
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
This is what the ancients were commended for.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command . . .
By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. . .
By faith Enoch . . . pleased God.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him
must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
By faith Noah . . . built an ark . . .
By faith Abraham . . . obeyed and went, though he did not know where he was going.
(women)
By faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children . . .
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, . . .

6. Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But
that also proved to be meaningless.
“Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?”
I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with
wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the
few days of their lives.
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.
I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.
I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also
owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired
male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart.
I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed
with me.
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took
delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
If everything we can do in life is meaningless, what can we do to please God?

7. James 2:22
You see that his (Abraham’s) faith and his actions were working
together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
Solomon knew about Abraham. Why didn’t he tell us to live like him?
Which of these is most important:
Belief in your heart?
Confession with your mouth?
Position in your community?
Money in your bank?
Relationships with family and friends?
Rites of passage in a religious institution?
How you live a life of love, beyond what others can see?
What are we doing?
What are we doing for the Lord God Almighty, the King Jesus Christ?

8. Matthew 4:17-22
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven has come near.”
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two
brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were
casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish
for people.”
At once they left their nets and followed him.
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of
Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their
father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and
immediately they left the boat and their father and followed
him.

9. 1 John 3:13-18
Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates
you.
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we
love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you
know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life
for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and
sisters.
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister
in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in
that person?
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with
actions and in truth.
Be surprised if the world doesn’t hate you. It means you aren’t being useful to God.