Article 14

“The concept of voluntary works besides, over and above God’s commandments, which are sometimes called works of supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogance and impiety. By them men declare not only that they render to God their proper duty but that they actually do more than their duty. But Christ says: ‘So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, “We are unprofitable servants.” ‘ “

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One of the most remarkable people of the nineteenth century was Lord Shaftesbury. He entered the British Parliament in 1826 and was a champion of women, children, workers and the poor. Shaftesbury was instrumental in the passage of laws prohibiting the employment of women and children in coal mines, establishing a ten-hour day for factory workers and reforming the care of the mentally ill. He was also concerned about the housing and education of the deprived children living in Britain’s cities, so started the so-called “Ragged Schools” for the children society had neglected. It is estimated that around 300,000 children went through the London Ragged Schools alone between the early 1840’s and 1881.

To have been responsible for so many great reforms, that did so much for so many, was a wonderful achievement. Perhaps there were some people who thought God would be indebted to Lord Shaftesbury for all his good work. Indeed, the plight of the poor must be very close to God’s heart. But Shaftesbury himself was an evangelical Christian who would have dismissed such talk. He was no doubt proud of his accomplishments and grateful for his privileged position, but he would have seen his efforts on behalf of others as simply his response to what God had done for him. He probably pondered often on Jesus’ words: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 13:48)

As one of the 39 Articles puts it: “The concept of voluntary works besides, over and above God’s commandments cannot be taught without arrogance and impiety. By them men declare not only that they render to God their proper duty but that they actually do more than their duty. But Christ says: ‘So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, “We are unprofitable servants.” ‘ ” Lord Shaftesbury would have considered himself simply an “unprofitable servant” of his Lord Jesus Christ.