Is fighting
the Ebola virus on the continent of Africa a good idea? Should we spend more
American tax dollars to provide supplies and medicines to refugees affected by
the religious persecutions and wars in Iraq and Syria? Is it wise to help US
veterans who are disabled and or struggling with PTSD regain their balance to
make a fresh start? Should the Veteran Administration Hospitals provide higher
quality service and care to those who have hazarded their lives serving our
country? These are legitimate considerations facing our country collectively
and each of us as Americans. As a prospering nation it is incumbent upon us to
show forth goodness to others around the world while diligently addressing the
swelling needs here at home. Furthermore Christians are responsible for
demonstrating the goodness of God on a daily basis through acts of kindness and
generosity. This brings us to another aspect of the fruit of the Spirit called
“goodness.” Once
more the great Apostle Paul says to us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23). What
is goodness according to the Bible?
GOODNESS
In
Romans 15:14, Paul says, “And I myself also am
persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye
also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish
one another.” Christians are to be “full of goodness” and this fits them
for meaningful ministries of encouragement, exhortation, and warning to others.
We should reserve zero room for evil expressions. Again in Ephesians 5:8-10, he
says, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye
light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9, (For the fruit of the Spirit
is in all goodness and righteousness
and truth;)10, Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” “All goodness”
is consistent with living according to God’s light and Word; goodness is the
fruit of the Spirit, and all genuine goodness is acceptable to the Lord Jesus. Of
supreme importance is the fact that God, not society, defines goodness and all
types thereof. Once more Paul says in Second Thessalonians 1:11-12, “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would
count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith
with power: 12, That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you,
and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
There is a goodness that belongs to God; a kind of goodness He delights to show
and work out in and through Believers for Christ’s glory. Goodness actually
demonstrates the grace of God as it influence our lives. Grace marks and
controls the expression of goodness. Thus goodness is not merely a passive
quality in Believers; it is a deliberate preference to what is right, and a
decided rejection of moral evil. Goodness utterly insists upon opposing evil
while persisting to follow and choose all forms of moral good (Easton’s
Bible Dictionary).
So
then the sixth quality the Holy Spirit produces in Believers is “goodness” (Gal. 5:22) toward all including those
who have been intentionally insensitive or have sought to do harm to others. Goodness may not only be thought of as
uprightness of soul, but also as outward-reaching actions toward others to help
or benefit them even when it is not deserved. Goodness is virtue in both disposition and deportment. It is morality
within and usefulness demonstrated. Christians must perform that which is
beneficial toward others regardless of who they are while pursuing what is good
for society. A person’s failed past does not automatically forfeit all
expressions of goodness towards them from individuals or society.
A defining question should be entertained at this point, “Is all
‘goodness’ God’s goodness?” It is imperative that we remember that ‘good’ is to
be defined by God and not society at large. Modern secularized values
persistently call good evil and evil good. The new morality is actually the
same old evil of a past generation. Society influenced by a warp and twisted
media will sanction sinful, evil, and outrageous practices in the name of doing
‘good.’ To the biblically illiterate alternative lifestyles are good, drug
usage is good, recreational sex is good, consuming alcohol is good, cheating on
your marriage is good, aborting babies is good, killing the elderly is good,
and corrupt business and government is good. Our society is utterly inept at
deciding or executing authentic goodness!
Biblically speaking good encompasses right motives, moral endeavors, and
godly outcomes. So, to be considered “good” requires virtuous purposes, a
wholesome undertaking or task that actually pleases God, and the end product is
honoring to God and truly beneficial to humanity. Biblical goodness does not accommodate
the relativistic and situational ethic kind of ‘good’ so common today. There is
no conception of using morally evil means to secure ‘good’ ends. Nor is there toleration
for wicked endeavors that brought about ‘good’ developments. No leniency is
afforded for a net ‘good’ merely because the motives were right. This is because
God’s standards for goodness are absolute. He requires wholesome tasks
performed with spiritual motives and righteous outcomes. Nelson's New Illustrated Bible
Dictionary (Youngblood,
and Bruce 1995) says:
Goodness—the quality of being good; praiseworthy character; moral excellence. The Bible speaks often of the goodness of God (Ex. 33:19; Rom. 2:4). God’s goodness consists of righteousness, holiness, justice, kindness, grace, mercy, and love. Goodness is also one of the fruits of the Spirit that should characterize Christian believers (Gal. 5:22). Christians are called to goodness, even as God the Father is perfect and good (Matt. 5:48).
Therefore,
a believer branded by spiritual “goodness” will manifest righteousness,
holiness, justice, kindness, grace, mercy, and love in action. Though these
qualities are perfect in our heavenly Father, they are quite imperfect in us His
children. Nevertheless He is the standard of genuine goodness. The Spirit of
God will communicate these same qualities into the yielded believer’s
experience. That is, we will do right because it is indeed right, be set apart unto
God’s will and pleasure, fair/honest in our dealings, kind towards the
deserving and undeserving alike, graceful toward all, show mercy to those
admitting their failures while affording opportunities for redemption, and give
love to friends and foes unconditionally. The glory of God is upon such a life;
Christ is greatly honored through such expressions. The more mature we are in Christ, the
more prominently “goodness” will pervade our personalities.
Goodness can also be described as
“generosity of self and possessions.” It
includes hospitality and a multiplicity of acts of benevolence, charitableness,
generosity, philanthropy, and thoughtfulness that flow from an unselfish heart.
It portrays a kind soul who is far more interested in investing in the lives of
others than receiving. God’s desire for all believers is that
we continue actively engaging in multiplied good works. This is precisely what
Paul prescribed in Titus 3:8, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou
affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These
things are good and profitable unto men.” God plans for His people
to be intentionally plugged into activities, ventures, venues, and
opportunities that express goodness—organizations that are profitable to
humanity. Bible believing churches always need more bus workers, evangelism
ministries always need more participants, homeless ministries constantly need
volunteers, discipleship ministries need workers, and jail ministries could use a great deal more help. The
person who is often given to melancholy moods, gloom and depression because of
an over indulgence in self-centered thinking needs this quality. There is something restorative about serving
others that lifts a person out of the rut of self-thoughts.
To see goodness in action consider the life of the Lord Jesus who
ceaselessly “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38;
Matt. 9:35; 12:15; 15:21-31). Consider the record of Matthew,
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. 25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan (Matthew 4:23-25).
No one would argue that these were not genuinely good actions performed
by the Lord Jesus. He filled up His life with such helpful exercises of service
to God and mankind. He recruited and trained others to serve alongside Himself
and to continue such spiritual and benevolent acts/deeds. Likewise it is still
good to preach the Gospel of salvation, teach the truth of God’s Word to
transform lives, and labor to heal people’s bodies and minds. According to our
Lord Jesus’ example, it is good to help folks overcome the forces of evil and
darkness in their individual struggles, deal with the mistakes and failures of
their past, and fight the spread of violent diseases. These are good endeavors
before God and for the good of humanity. The Lord Jesus made these the focus of
His ministry to others. The kind of help He afforded empowered, lifted, and
transformed the present situation posturing people for a better future. He did
NOT perpetuate a victim mentality! His incredible works demonstrated that He is
indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, and what was truly important to God. The Lord
Jesus helped people with their most pressing spiritual needs, and He ministered
to their temporal needs as well. He gave them bread to eat that He may offer
them the Bread of Life (John 6). He freed people from sin and it’s power that
they may experience all their potential in the plan of God for them. The
dysfunctional become functional and the disenfranchised are invested with fresh
opportunities because of Christ’s goodness to us all.
One could also read Luke 10:30–35, where the Good Samaritan showed
himself a good neighbor. Though there
was hostility and religious animosity between the Samaritans and the Jews,
still he did everything in his power to aid this fallen Jewish traveler. He not
only overcame cultural prejudices, but he defined what it means to be a real
neighbor. The Samaritan took the time, altered his schedule, possibly endangered himself, invested
his money, valued commonalities more than their differences, took the necessary
pains to be of help, generously used his resources, sought to alleviate a real
need, and made whatever arrangements were necessary to help this wounded man.
He did good because he fundamentally valued another human life. The power of
goodness is still just as potent in this modern age of injustice and prejudices.
It can still transform individuals and societies through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and
submissive believers. Too many Christians fear the fact that showing goodness
will cost them. It will cost time, energy, and resources. It is almost never
convenient, and yes, we will have times when we feel used and unappreciated. Yes, we will be
challenged repeatedly to reevaluate our priorities—what is truly or most
important?
But what about the risks involved with helping troubled people? Yes,
people will try to take advantage of our goodness. Yes, there are serious
inherent dangers to fighting viruses and diseases like Ebola. Yes, our nice
and neat schedules will be altered, interrupted, and changed again…again…and
again…. Yes, it will cost you and me personally and it will cost the churches or organizations we serve with. Yes, we must take serious
precautions/considerations before bringing a homeless stranger into our home
for the winter. Yes, there will be occasions when we feel like we are not
making any progress. Yes, there will be times when we question whether all
this is worthwhile. Yes, there will be setbacks, frustrations, unanticipated
roadblocks, regulatory issues, misunderstandings, opposition from those who
question our motives, and legal hurdles to clear, but we must remember what we
are doing. Yes, we may have to give up a certain higher quality of life…perhaps
less personal luxuries in order to address the raw needs of others. Yes, there
will be people trying to take advantage of our services or help perpetually.
Yes, we will have to make some difficult decisions concerning those who do not
want Christ and the Gospel; they really only want a meal or yet another handout. Still…still…still difficulties in worthwhile endeavors are worth the
headaches! With proper consideration for biblical guidance, laws, regulations,
protocols, and risk management, we continue to maintain good works that are
pleasing to God and good for people. There will be “Christian” groups who will
criticize us for being too temporal, too social, or too liberal. Let them say
what they will; model your efforts after those of the Lord Jesus Christ during
His earthly ministry. Remember our Lord had many critics who did NOTHING to
address people’s spiritual, physical, or otherwise real needs! Like the
religious leaders in our Lord’s time, these are far too concern with their
personal interests to really be of help to anyone.
There will be times when the Holy Spirit will prompt us Christians to
perform a kind act of service. We need to be sensitive and follow these divine
impulses. D. L. Moody once stated that it was his custom, after presenting
himself to the Holy Spirit’s leadership, to act upon the impulses which came to
mind, provided they did not involve violating any known principle of the Word.
Is this not a healthy practice to personally adopt? God will transform the
inner life as we experience the joy of giving into the lives of others refusing
to be selfish and stingy. God is looking for the opportunity to make a greater
impact in our world, but He desires to work through people who practice divine
goodness by the power of the Holy Ghost. Each submissive believer represents an
opportunity to do good right now. The needs are all around us! If you are like
me, there are needs in your family and home that you can address in the name of
our Lord. There is a hand you can hold, a Bible story you can read at bedtime,
a tear you can wipe away, a hand you can give, a prayer ministry you can
execute, and a sounding board you can provide. You can be an ear to listen,
someone to pray with, and a shoulder to cry on. You can provide these
incredible gifts by the grace of God at work in you. You do not need the wealth
of a Bill Gates to do good in people’s lives, but you do need the power of
God’s Spirit. Look to Him regularly for guidance, strength, power, and all
spiritual resources. Understand that you cannot do it all, but you can make a
difference in someone’s life. God will supply the grace and wisdom we need as we
are careful to maintain good works that glorify Him and help our fellow man. Beloved, it is right to do good for goodness sake!
Christians are responsible for demonstrating the goodness of God on a daily basis through acts of kindness and generosity. This brings us to another aspect of the fruit of the Spirit called “goodness.” Once more the great Apostle Paul says to us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23). What is goodness according to the Bible?
ReplyDeletehttps://maxevangel.blogspot.com/2014/09/for-goodness-sake.html
#Help #Care #Goodness #Spirit #Service #Aid #MaxEvangel
We will do right because it is indeed right, be set apart unto God’s will and pleasure, fair/honest in our dealings, kind towards the deserving and undeserving alike, graceful toward all, show mercy to those admitting their failures while affording opportunities for redemption, and give love to friends and foes unconditionally. The glory of God is upon such a life; Christ is greatly honored through such expressions. The more mature we are in Christ, the more prominently “goodness” will pervade our personalities.
ReplyDeletehttps://maxevangel.blogspot.com/2014/09/for-goodness-sake.html
#Help #Care #Goodness #Spirit #Service #Aid #MaxEvangel
God plans for His people to be intentionally plugged into activities, ventures, venues, and opportunities that express goodness—organizations that are profitable to humanity. Bible believing churches always need more bus workers, evangelism ministries always need more participants, homeless ministries constantly need volunteers....
ReplyDeletehttps://maxevangel.blogspot.com/2014/09/for-goodness-sake.html
#Help #Care #Goodness #Spirit #Service #Aid #MaxEvangel