Faith in God carries the great responsibility of conforming our actions to our profession. No actual good can be expected from unbelievers, even though they are under the same obligation to obey the precepts of the moral law as are believers. However, the very fact that one "believes in God" shows that God has dealt with him in mercy, and this mercy brings him under the special duty of maintaining good works "for necessary uses, that (he) be not unfruitful" (Titus 3:14). 

    In the context we see two major reasons for the maintenance of good works by believers. The first is that it is "good and profitable unto men," and the second is, it keeps them from being unfruitful. The foremost concern of believers in maintaining good works should be the glory of the Lord, and they cannot glorify Him if they are not bearing fruit to His honor. But there is an inherent "good" and "profit" that also comes to them as a result of following His example and adhering to the instruction He has laid down for them in His word. 

    The duty of believers to maintain good works is one of the "faithful sayings" that Paul referred to in four separate places, and it is something that should be "affirmed constantly". Good works play no part in the obtaining of eternal life, for that is by the grace of God alone, but they do play a very important part in the peace and happiness of the saints while they live here in the world. 

    They are to "maintain" good works. That is, they are to remain constant in the performance of them throughout their lives, and they are to be "careful" in this regard. By so doing they let their light so shine before men that they may see their good works and glorify their Father which is in heaven (See Matt. 5:16). 

    May the Lord graciously help all true believers to be "zealous of good works." He has before ordained that they should (ought to) walk in them (See Eph. 2:10).