Why would a billionaire be bothered by waste and latrines in India or polio eradication in Africa? These were the questions in my head as I watched the documentary series titled Inside Bill’s Brain.

Bill & Melinda Gates sat at their table one morning and an article caught their attention. The article by Nicholas Kristof (New York Times Op-Ed Columnist) titled “For Third World, Water is still a Deadly Drink” described how many children in India died of diarrhea because of the dirty water they drank. As he read through and did further research which showed that three million children die each year because of diarrhea. He knew he had to do something. He began dedicating his resources to finding a cheap and easy way to provide clean water to these communities. The key, he realized, was solving the sanitation crisis, the major cause of the rampant diarrhea. He didn’t stop there; he also tried to channel resources to eradicate polio from the face of the earth.

Just pause for a second and imagine; What a man!

As much as there’s also propaganda as to what is behind the inspiration for Bill Gates to be involved in solving African problems like birth control and the likes, we can’t all deny that fact that it’s mind-boggling to see one man gather resources, time and all to focus on a problem thousands of miles away from his location.

As I thought about these, a scripture jumped into my heart.

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. — Acts 10:38.

From this scripture, it was as if the sole purpose of the anointing was for Good works.

There is already a lot of darkness in the world and God is expecting us to illuminate every corner of the earth. Pastor Dami shared a few Sundays ago on how we need to be religious (anything you pursue with great devotion) about our Christian faith and that the purpose of religion is charity and holiness.

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. — James 1:27

Throughout Jesus’ life He went about doing good works: preaching the good news, feeding the multitudes, healing the sick, raising the dead, etc., such goodness filled the entire environment where Jesus was and long after his death, we still enjoy His goodness. His blood continues to wash away the sin of men several thousands of years after it was shed.

We see men who continue to lead several generations unto life several generations after their demise. No wonder Matthew 5:13 and 14 call us the salt of the earth and light of the world.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven — Matthew 5: 13–16

One of the key functions of salt is for preservation. We ought to preserve the environment around us ensuring nothing gets spoilt around us and we do this by sharing the good news, living pure and blameless lives, praying for our friends and neighbors, inviting people to church, being efficient at our workplace, and living generously. These are ways to express the god-like tendencies within us. And as light, we ensure that no darkness or ignorance in our path by living a life that is holy and consumed with a passion to do the will of God.

This is another admonishment for us that this week and for the rest of the year, let’s do good works through our generous and holy lives.

Do have a blessed week.

Mayowa Oladunjoye

LinkedIn: @Mayowa Oladunjoye

Push Buttons is a weekly devotional of The Powerpoint Tribe.