God is So Good
I shared this with my classes 2 weeks ago.
The other day, a friend reflected on the “good” things she did this week. Which prompted me to dutifully recite all the “good” things I had done this week.
We were, of course, comparing ourselves to the bad people* out there. Thank goodness we’re not like THEM!
*bad people = woke liberals, or people who voted for Trump (whichever “side” you’re not on).
The whole exercise, which was suppose to make us feel good, instead made me feel ICKY.
If you still don’t understand what I am referring to, watch this video.
View this post on Instagram
We are NOT Good
So, the point of this blog post is a reminder that we are NOT good. Nope, not one.
Any good that you see in us is a direct result of Christ residing in us, and a direct result of God – we are only His image-bearers. Meaning, like a mirror, we only reflect His good.
Mark 10
Mark 10 is a wonderful chapter. It’s also on the incredibly wise chapter on divorce – a good read!
The Rich and the Kingdom of God
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him.
“One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words.
But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[e] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Only God is Good
The point of the video, and of Mark 10, is that only God is Good.
It is because of Him that we live.
Some mistakenly believe doing good things gets us a prize here on earth. It doesn’t.
Others mistakenly believe doing good things gets us to Heaven. It doesn’t.
Doing good things is good, but doing good things does not make us good.
ONLY God is good. Doing good is following Christ.
Don’t forget this!
All humans have this tendency to fall into pride after doing “good things”.
It’s what makes us angry when we’re good, and others are NOT so good. It makes us proud and bitter.
It’s the unsettling feeling we get when the guys in that video counting on their fingers all the “good” things they did so they DESERVE Heaven. That “pride” is what separates us from God, which defeats the entire purpose of doing good things.
Two Important Points of Mark 10
Jesus Looked at the Braggart and Loved Him
Even after bragging about all the “good” things he had done, Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
I love this because it tells us how silly and immature we all are, and yet how God loves us in spite of that.
Why did Jesus say he wasn’t good?
If only God is good, and Jesus says he wasn’t good, does this mean Jesus is saying He isn’t God?
No, absolutely not. There are many instances in the Bible where Jesus states He is good.
The context of this story is that this man who believed he was morally superior was trying to get Jesus to validate him. He was calling Jesus “Good teacher” to brownnose Jesus into returning his flattery.
Jesus knew it and challenged him immediately.
Jesus was not denying that he was good nor was he denying that he was God.
Goodness is not a quality we can manufacture on our own by doing good deeds.
It can only come from God. Recognition of this, and what He did for us on the cross, and picking up our own cross to follow him is the only way we can grow the Godly characteristic of goodness. As others see our good works, they will praise our good, good Father in Heaven.
Recent Comments