What is your definition of Good?

 

Ok, another weird question! 

                                      WHAT IS GOOD?

Isn’t this term relative. My definition of a good day, is a day filled with peace, joy, and the presence of God. Today, the sun is shining, the ice is melting. But it is a good day relative to what we have been getting with ice causing problems this past week. Comparitavely it is not nearly as good as sitting on the beach in Florida soaking up some 80 degree weather. Some people think having a “good time” is getting drunk and out of control at some party. My daughter Kelley thinks a good day is baking a batch of cookies. My good day would just be eating them! LOL. 

The debate about what is Good starts a conversation that is shared in three of the four gospels. At first it seems like a strange conversation and response from Jesus. 

“As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus asked. ‘Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” (Mark 10:17-19)

What was the point of this exchange?

First, Jesus wasn’t doubting his goodness. But, the interaction was a little odd. We don’t really know 100% what he was thinking, but His question really could have been this, “Why do you call me good, only God is truly good. Do you think I am God?” He was really questioning whether this young man was comparing him (Jesus) to God. If this man was claiming Jesus was God, that would be an amazing claim and of course it would be correct. Maybe he was.

Next we are told Jesus felt genuine love for this man. I am sure this man was not far from heaven and Jesus could sense that. But when Jesus asked him if he was willing to take the next step, this young man revealed he wasn’t quite there yet. 

Jesus is the real definition of Good. The standard for all of humanity is the goodness of God and when Jesus came to live among us, he was perfectly good. He loved us so much. That goodness of God demonstrated through the life of Jesus is truly a wonderful gift to each of us. 

“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. FOR THE LORD IS GOOD. HIS UNFAILING LOVE CONTINUES FOREVER, AND HIS FAITHFULNESS CONTINUES TO EACH GENERATION.” (Psalm 100, emphasis added)