Is Our Good, Good Enough?

We raise our children with the constant admonition that we want them to be good.  I often talk to the little ones and ask them, “Have you been good today?”  Being good is a worthy goal.  Not everyone is successful in that pursuit.  There are many people who just are not good.
 
So, what does it mean to be good?  Obeying the laws of the land is good.   Listening to teachers in school is good.  Looking for and taking advantage of opportunities to help someone else is good.  Going to church is good.
 
The Bible combines the concept of being good with some other concepts that many do not consider. 
“Depart from evil and do good.”  (Psalm 34:14)
“Trust in the Lord and do good.” (Psalm 37:3)
“…love your enemies and do good.”  (Luke 6:35)
“…as we have opportunity let do good to all…”  (Galatians 6:10)
“But do not forget to do good and share…”  (Hebrews 13:16)
 
But, there is a caution for all of us who value being good.  Just being good is not good enough.  You can be good, as the world defines it, and still be lost eternally.  Sure the devil’s hell is reserved for the worst criminals and sinners who do not repent.  But, it will also be the dwelling place for those good people who simply followed the world’s definition of goodness instead of God’s.  Cornelius (Acts 10) was a good man who was lost because he had never obeyed the gospel.
 
The Scriptures confirm that often our good is not good enough in many different instances.  The story of the rich, young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22) is about a man who thought he had been good enough.  He had kept all the commandments from his youth, not good enough.
 
Another account is of a landowner who agreed with workers on a price to work in his field.  They did not all start working at the same time.  Different ones came throughout the day some working all day and others working only an hour.  However, at the end of the day, they all received the same pay.  Those who had worked the longest were upset.  The landowner responded, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things:  Or is your eye evil because I am good?” (Matthew 20:15).  These workers thought he was evil and  not good.
 
In the event of Mary, Martha, and Jesus, Martha busied herself preparing a meal for Jesus who had come for a visit.  Mary, however, sat and listened to Jesus teach.  Martha was doing a good thing.  She was upset that Mary was not helping her.  Jesus said to her, “…one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken a way from her.” (Luke 10:42). 
 
Saul had been a persecutor of Christians.  However, he later told the Jewish leaders after his conversion, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” (Acts 23:1).  He thought he was being good the whole time he was persecuting those Christians.
 
Romans 14 records a discussion about people eating meats and others eating only vegetables.  Since both are acceptable to God, no one should expect their choice to be the only one.  Paul’s admonition is that we should not so act in our freedom that others would call it not good.  Sometimes, our good is not good enough.

— Mike Johnson