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I. A DUTY. Our work is good, and approved by God, if it have —

1. A good ground, viz., the will and Word of God, and not will-worship and human invention.

2. A good performance. Sincere, as in the presence of God, and with an honest heart.

3. A good end.

(1)  God's glory (1 Corinthians 10:30).

(2)  Our brother's good (1 Corinthians 14:26).

II. A PRIVILEGE.

1. Independence of men.

2. The blessed testimony of a good conscience (2 Corinthians 1:12). Hence learn —

(1) That if we would have a light heart we must approve ourselves unto God.

(2) That the common estimate of religion as gloomy is false (Proverbs 15:15; 1 Peter 1:18).

(3) That there is much spurious joy in the world, which arises, not from within, but without. There are those

(a)  who rejoice in the opinions of others;

(b)  in the fact that they have not been open offenders;

(c)  in the virtue of their ancestors (John 8:33; Matthew 3:9);

(d)  in that others are worse than themselves.

(R. Cudworth.)

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KJV: But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

WEB: But let each man test his own work, and then he will take pride in himself and not in his neighbor.