Good is Good enough!
"The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45, ESV)
"The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45, ESV)
When did good become a bad word? At what point did we become so obsessed with greatness and being better than good that good all of a sudden became a less than desired status? To say that someone is good in today’s society is to say that they are mediocre at best and is really a polite way to say…they are really just average. You don’t really hear anyone ever describe Tiger Woods as a good golfer. The last time Michael Jordan was described as a good basketball player was probably in grade school after his first practice. I can hear the coach now…’you know that Jordan kid is going to be a pretty good player…lots of potential.’ After practice #2, I would imagine his status went from good to great! And that’s what we all desire pretty much isn’t it? To go from good to great? I mean…that’s the desire of every red blooded American…right? Who wants to be just plain ole’ good? Who would be lazy enough to just desire to be good?
I find myself in the whole adjective and superlative struggle almost everyday. Trying to find words that ‘out do’ the ones I have over used and seem to fall back on so frequently. Awesome! Amazing! Unbelievable! Incredible!....just to name a few. I have subscribed to dictionary.com to try and find new words! Nothing wrong with expanding our vocabulary and in fact, I recommend it! However… I find myself saying new and old words all the time and yet…they never seem to truly communicate what I am wanting to say. So I continue to search for a new way to describe the grandeur and magnificence of the object or thought I am wanting to convey. And I’m weary. Where does it end? How can I communicate how delicious a burr grinded, French pressed cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee really is? I’m so tired of my limited and worn out vocabulary. And yet…something within me just continues to scream….it’s soooo good! It’s good! So very good! And in my heart and mind…that seems to satisfy. But I worry that that doesn’t communicate anymore. That good is such a negative word now that most people won’t really understand what I am trying to say.
What is up with good? It seems as though there was a day when good was great! You know? When good was a really choice word that communicated in such a descriptive and positive way. When everyone wanted to be good in the most genuine sense. I believe we’ve lost the true meaning of the word ‘good’. I believe if we will disconnect from society for just a moment…and consider once again the original intent of good…that we will find it was the original great. It was the standard by which all other things were measured. It was the mark that everyone wanted to attain. There was no ‘good to great’. Good was good enough. It was the destination! I don’t know about you…but I want to return to a life and a society where good is prized. Where good get’s it’s credibility back. After all…look at what God calls good…
"And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness." (Genesis 1:4, ESV)
"God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1:10, ESV)
"The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1:12, ESV)
"to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1:18, ESV)
"So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1:21, ESV)
"And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1:25, ESV)
"And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day." (Genesis 1:31, ESV)
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)
"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:11, ESV)
"The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil." (Matthew 12:35, ESV)
"And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”" (Matthew 19:17, ESV)
"And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone."
(Mark 10:18, ESV)
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil." (Luke 6:35, ESV)
"Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty." (Acts 6:3, ESV)
"But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." (Acts 8:12, ESV)
"All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”" (Romans 3:12, ESV)
"For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out." (Romans 7:18, ESV)
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
" Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." (Romans 12:9, ESV)
"For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil." (Romans 16:19, ESV)
"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:10, ESV)
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6, ESV)
"but test everything; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21, ESV)
"and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work." (1 Timothy 5:10, ESV)
"Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work." (2 Timothy 2:21, ESV)
"but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined."
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil." (Luke 6:35, ESV)
"Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty." (Acts 6:3, ESV)
"But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." (Acts 8:12, ESV)
"All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”" (Romans 3:12, ESV)
"For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out." (Romans 7:18, ESV)
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
" Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good." (Romans 12:9, ESV)
"For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil." (Romans 16:19, ESV)
"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:10, ESV)
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6, ESV)
"but test everything; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21, ESV)
"and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work." (1 Timothy 5:10, ESV)
"Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work." (2 Timothy 2:21, ESV)
"but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined."
(Titus 1:8, ESV)
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,"
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,"
(Hebrews 10:24, ESV)
"Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?"
"Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?"
(1 Peter 3:13, ESV)
I hear people say all the time…. “I want to do great things for God…or…I want to be used for great purposes for God”…basically meaning they want a ministry or effectiveness like Billy Graham or Rick Warren. And honestly…I must confess that I have the same thoughts and desires. But I wonder what God thinks about that? I wonder if our motives are truly to glorify God, or to puff up self? I think what Jesus would say to us is… ‘you want to be great…then just be serious about being good…take that serious…concentrate and set your heart on being good.’ What was it He said…. ‘He that wants to be the greatest…must become the......least?’
