There are moments in history that become etched in our memories. A generation of people remember where they were when they heard that President John F. Kennedy had been shot. Succeeding generations pinpoint when they heard that the Challenger space shuttle exploded or that Princess Diana had been killed or when a normal day at an elementary school became a war zone. Do you remember?
In August of 1997 we were at the end of a long car trip that began with a family wedding in Saint Lous, then a stay with relatives in Chicago and finally visiting with friends outside of Cleveland. We were in the car headed to Sunday services at our friend’s church when the radio announcer reported that Princess Diana had been seriously injured in a car accident in Paris. Her beautiful, young face flashed through my mind. It was unbelievable that such youthful radiance was now battling for life. When later that day news of her death at 36 years of age swept the world, millions mourned. Her good works were retold around the globe. Many openly wept. Their lives had been touched by what was defined as her goodness. I remember feeling sad and wondering if all her good works would be remembered by the One who matters most. She had done so many things that could be defined as good, yet without a relationship with God and a desire to please Him, they had no eternal value. I had no knowledge about any relationship with God she might have had. I wondered if her good works without reference to God were empty actions. Diana’s deeds helped many and were good externally, but if her heart’s motivation was to prove her own value or to be loved by people, then they were not acts of goodness in the Biblical sense.
If someone says, “God is good,” then most American Christians know that their response should be, “All the time.” But what do we mean? What are we saying about God’s goodness? We mean that we believe His actions toward us are motivated by good intentions for us. Even though we may not recognize His actions as good, we rest in confident assurance that His character is good. His goodness means that He always, always, always is motivated by what is best for us. His intention is never to hurt for hurt’s sake, for retribution or revenge. When we say “God is good all the time” we mean that we believe God’s goodness always sees the big picture, how what is best for me fits with what is best for the whole world. His goodness is always working for the good of all His creation. His goodness is expressed in benevolence, in provision, in comfort, in encouragement, in His presence as we walk through the valley of the shadow. God’s goodness is always relational, motivated by His care and concern for you and for me. God’s goodness emanates from the truest of loves. No selfishness involved. His goodness is moral excellence that acts for our benefit and not His own.
Biblical goodness is a reflection of the goodness of God’s character. When I examine my own good works are they a reflection of God’s character? Are they an expression of true goodness? What motivates my good actions? In order for me to express true, unselfish, completely benevolent goodness I need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I am so aware of my own selfishness. Even when it is not recognizable to others, I sense my motivations of self-protection or self-promotion. My need to be liked may motivate a kind word. My desire to look good may motivate a kind action. Scripture says there is no good thing in me. (Romans 7:18) Left to myself, I would be like an apple that looks good on the outside and may have spots of good texture and sweetness, but mixed in would be mealy, brown spots of bitterness or blandness. The only way for me to be motivated by a reflection of God’s goodness is through the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in my life: The good fruit of God’s goodness at work in me.
Goodness as a fruit of the Spirit is so much more than a moral attribute. It‘s more than good deeds. For an apple to be a good apple it needs to do more than just look good on the outside. A shiny red skin can be deceptive. Once you bite into it the texture of an apple should be firm and not mushy. The taste must be not too tart and not too sweet. No brown spots under the skin. It needs to be good all the way to the core in order to be a good apple. Biblical goodness is good to the core.
My goodness must go to the core if I am a good person in the Biblical sense. My motivation is just as important as my action. Only God really knows my motivations. Only He can recognize and produce true goodness in me. The quality of goodness expressed in a life is more than just good deeds. The character quality of goodness is so much deeper. It does good things from a good heart, a heart that is motivated by pleasing God, a heart that is increasing in Christ-like character because of the Spirit’s work within.
Am I a good person? There is something in every one of us that wants that answer to be “yes.” Part of a funeral remembrance is often the description of good works done by the departed. Everyone wants to remember the good and be remembered for the good. When my life is over is goodness something that will remain or will my good works fade away with no eternal significance? True goodness is good to the core. What kind of “taste” will you and I leave behind?
Key Thought: True goodness flows from God’s goodness.
A Scriptiure to consider:
We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. 2 Peter 1:3 CEV
A YES challenge: It can be hard to determine our own motivations, but in order to be good all the way through we need to recognize them. Think about your most recent good deed. Ask God to show you your motivation in that case. What did He show you about yourself? What do you need to ask Him to change so that you can better let the Holy Spirit develop true goodness in you?
Prayer: Father, You alone know my heart. You know me better than I know me. You know if I am truly good. I want to reflect Your goodness. I want to be good to the core and I know that I am not. Help me to recognize where I fall short and to rely on the Holy Spirit to work Your goodness in and through me. Amen.