Of all the attributes that the Holy Spirits wants to install into our character Goodness is the most difficult for me to grasp. It may be because this single attribute of God’s personality is so complete. God’s goodness is not an occasional manifestation toward us, it is His very nature. He is always working for the good of those that love Him and are called according to his purpose. His motives toward us are always good. His watch-care over us is always good. His provisions for us are always good.
We consider ourselves to be good or bad by the things we do, say or participate in, and by our understanding good is a relative term. If the word gooder was a word it would be the word we use to describe the things we do, say or participate in. For instance we might rebuild a porch on the house of a widow because her old one was rotten and dangerous. When we are finished the porch would be gooder than the old one and we might consider ourselves gooder for having done it. While the act of building the porch was a manifestation of goodness and an indication that we are capable of doing good things it is not proof that we have obtained the fruit of goodness as defined in our focus verse. You and I both know lost people that are generous and continually do good things. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the fruit described as goodness is not a relative thing. We tend to think of goodness in relative terms (good, gooder, goodest) but the attribute of goodness that we strive for through the Holy Spirit is not relative-it is completely good just as God is good.
The word good has so many uses that one dictionary, The Reader's Digest Complete Oxford Word Finder, devotes an entire 6" x 9½" page in very fine type to list them! We use it to indicate competence (good at math); reliability (good brakes); strength (good eyesight); kindness (good of you to come); moral excellence (good deed or good works); behavior (good child); enjoyment (a good party); thoroughness (gave it a good wash); immensity in number (a good many people); beneficence (milk is good for you); soundness (a good reason); expedience (thought it good to have a try); freshness (is the meat still good); worthiness (good old George); attractiveness (has good legs); moral rightness (did it for your own good); promise (good news); a desirable end (sacrificing the present for future good); favor (a good review). There are many more, but this is sufficient to give us an overview of some of this very versatile word's uses in everyday English. It is used as a noun, adjective and adverb and is the root of the word "goodness." The common idea in almost all of its uses is that it suggests a desirable quality, something commendable, reliable, welcome, enjoyable, beneficent, kind, noble, admirable, exemplary and very much welcome. In the word "goodness," the inner qualities of virtue, excellence of character, morality and attitude that we see in a person's behavior come out.
So how does our goodness manifest itself? I think our goodness has to mirror/reflect God’s goodness toward us.
• Psalms 107:1, Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
• Psalms 31:19, How great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast stored up for those who fear Thee, which Thou hast wrought for those who take refuge in Thee, before the sons of men!
The goodness of God is prominent in the opening chapters of the Bible. Repeatedly, God pronounced everything which He created good.
The goodness of God appears to be the sum total of all of God’s attributes. The goodness of God may be viewed as one facet of His glorious nature and character and also the sum total of His nature and character. Exodus 33:19, Then Moses said, “I pray Thee, show me Thy glory!” And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion”
We cannot separate what is good from God. You cannot have goodness without God, just as you cannot have God without goodness. God alone is good. James tells us this in James 1:17, Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow. We simply cannot separate “good” from “God.” Here is where our society, and especially our educational system, had better take note. You cannot teach values, you cannot teach morality, without teaching about God. “Be ye holy,” God said, “for I am holy”
The goodness of God is a life-transforming truth. God’s wrath is good. God’s holiness is good. God’s righteousness is good. There is nothing about God that is not good. There is nothing God purposes for His children that is not good. God gives to His children only that which is good. And He withholds nothing good from us. God is good, and He is at work in our lives for good. Nothing which God creates, nothing which God accomplishes, is not good.
Let me conclude by considering ways the goodness of God should intersect our attitudes and actions.
• We must take this truth of God’s goodness one more step. God allows nothing to happen to the Christian which is not good. We all know this passage well: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose. Romans 8:28. We may be convinced of God’s goodness and yet doubt that everything which happens to us is good. Whatever comes into the life of the Christian is a part of God’s purpose to bring about our good and His glory.
• We all like to say “God is good; all the time God is good!” But when we are faced with the harsh trails of this life can we still say it, even in the hurt and the loneliness when even our friends desert us? Do we still say, “God is good!”?
• The goodness of God is evident in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is the “good news”. Do we share this good news, which is the extreme way God shows His goodness, with those we know need it?
To be continued…
Tommy—one counted among the redeemed
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