What does it mean to let your light shine?

Matthew 5:16(NKJV)

16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

What does it mean to let your light shone?  How do you let your light shine?  By being excellent at all you do; and then by using the skills that God has given you in the way that God directs you to use those skills to further His Kingdom. 

What really got my attention was the second part of this verse.  "….that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven."

What type of good works are we talking about here?  Here is how I see it.  Jesus is talking about good works on a scale that it even gets the attention of non believers and has them glorifying God for what you do.

Now don't get me wrong.  I think individual good works are important.  We are the hands of God as they say.  When we cut the old lady's grass next door we are letting our light shine.  When we help out that person who needs some groceries, that is letting our light shine.

My point however is that we serve a great God who will help us help so many more people if  we will only let Him.  The problem is we get in the way of God's greatness in our own lives sometimes. 

I think some times good people go to church, listen to the sermons, but then fail to translate what they have learned into action.  How many people do you know who go to work and just want to blend in?  They just want to put in their 8 hours, not draw attention to themselves, and go home; and wonder why they don't seem to get ahead in life.  Are they letting their "light shine"?

Is that really living life the way God instructs us to live it?  Is that really using the gifts and abilities that God has given us to their fullest potential? 

Yeah but that's not what Jesus is talking about here is it?  Isn't Jesus talking about the good works you do for God's kingdom?  I would suggest that they are connected, maybe even one in the same.  Let me explain.

One of the things about effective ministry, ie good works, is that it takes many skills besides just being able to do some work.  It takes persuasion to enlist people in your cause.  

"But I don't need other people for my good works."  Really?  You can do more as an individual than an army of people can do for God?  I don't think so. 

It takes organizational skills to coordinate an army of people.  Let me give you an example.  Our church gives away free groceries every Friday.  People buy food and drop it off at church.  That food has to be organized into bags and made ready for distribution.  Thousands of people have been blessed by this program. 

Now as dedicated and caring as everyone involved with the program is, the fact remains that all of them acting individually could never feed as many people as they do together through the free groceries program.

And it takes leadership.  One of the places people generally develop their organizational and leadership skills is on the job.  And the people who usually end up with the opportunity to learn those skills are the people who are trying to excel, not just blend in.

So there you have it.  That is why I believe that it is important for Christians to excel in all that they do, not just in ministry.  People who excel are generally successful.  People are drawn to other successful people and are willing to help in dynamic ministries.  I would suggest that there is no better way to let your light shine than attempt to be the best you can be in all that you do!