Just what makes something or someone good? Jesus asked that question of the young ruler that asked Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life” (Matthew 19:16, NKJV). Jesus answered as he often did with a question of his own: “Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is God” (v17). Whether the young ruler knew that Jesus was God and indeed good, scripture does not tell us but it appears that being “good” has a high bar.
That high bar is a godly bar. True and complete goodness is out of the reach of man. Romans 3:23 tells us that, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Also, “there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). If we cannot completely attain goodness, can we do good at all?
Since God is good is established by scripture, doing what He tells us to do is indeed good. Psalm 73:28 tells us, “But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God. That I may declare all your works.” The whole book of Ecclesiastes discusses vain works that appear good, but are like “chasing the wind” which indeed is vain and impossible. The inspired writer Solomon declares that we are to respect God and keep His commandments because God will bring every work into judgment, even the secret things, whether good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). God being good is also makes Him the judge of good. Not all we do is evil but most things may be vain or hollow.
So, we established a connection between God and godly works (not those that merely please ourselves or other humans). Going back to the account of the young ruler, he told Jesus that he had followed all of God’s commandments. Jesus declared he was lacking one thing: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Matthew 19:21, NKJV). SACRIFICE is the key to goodness! Just as God sacrificed His own Son for us in selfless, sacrificial love (John 3:16), we are to sacrifice our own lives, time, resources for His glory. That is “good” in the eyes of God. Paul implores in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (NKJV).”
As a matter of fact, God made us to do good works! “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10, NKJV). The One that is good expects us to do good and gave us the ability to do good.
To conclude, only God is truly good but by drawing near to Him and following His commands we can do good and glorify Him in that kind of good that is not vain but selfless and sacrificial. “The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Psalm 145:9, NKJV). We should therefore emulate those good works in mercy for others! “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10, NKJV).
