1 Be careful not to practice your righteousness[a] in front of people, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! 3 But when you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, <sup44 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[b]
-- Matthew 6:1-4 (HCSB)
Good works are those activities that move the community towards a state of goodness, i.e one. those typified by heavenly governance, peace, blessing, comfort, healing, and prosperity; and away from a state of evil, i.e. onethose typified by human governance, discord, distress, misery, injury, and loss.