Goodness

Class notes from Drew Ford

Notice that GOODNESS is one evidence of the fruit of the Spirit - not worked up from within us but developed by the Holy Spirit in our lives as we submit to Him.

Goodness in man is not a mere passive quality but the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good.

M.G. Easton writes that the Goodness of God is the "perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8).  Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favor on the unworthy it is grace.  Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection.  God is not sometimes merciful and sometimes just, but eternally infinitely just and merciful.  God is infinitely and unchangeably good (Zeph. 3:17), and his goodness is incomprehensible by the finite mind (Rom. 11:35, 36). 

What characteristics of the works of the flesh are opposites of GOODNESS?  ALL of them.

Good and kind have distinct meanings:
Good refers to something morally right or beneficial.
Kindness refers to being considerate and compassionate towards others.
While both come from places of compassion, the distinction lies in where these acts are felt and by whom.

Unlike our English usage of GOOD as a BASE or OK level that is exceeded by BETTER and BEST – God's usage in the Bible gives us GOOD as the Highest level of character and moral virtue.

God's goodness appears in two things: giving and forgiving.  (Easton)

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 Additional Notes from The Fruitful Life

Goodness is the activity calculated to advance that happiness.

Goodness is kindness in action

Goodness involves deliberate deeds that are helpful to others.

Acts 10:38 - Jesus went about doing good.

Ephesians 2:8 - 10

• created to do good works
• these good works were prepared in advance

Most of our opportunities for good deeds are in the course of our daily lives.

The challenge is to be alert for these opportunities and see them not as interruptions or inconveniences but as occasions for doing the good works God has planned for us.

Doing Good @ Work

We should think of our vocation not as a necessary evil to pay the bills, nor even as an opportunity to become rich but as the primary path of our Christian walk wherein God has planned good deeds for us to do.

If we are to grow in the grace of goodness, we must have the right attitude about our vocation.

Doing Good @ Home

Galatians 6:10

Somehow it seems more spiritual to babysit some other lady's children for free than to help mom with dishes after dinner.

 Doing Good to ALL people

• Pray, "Lord wh"what will you have me do?"
• DO IT

"rue goodness is self-sacrificing, not only of money but time also.

We will always be too busy to help others unless we really grasp the importance God puts on our doing good deeds for others.

True goodness does not look to the recipient or even the results of its deeds for its reward.  It looks to God alone and finding His smile of approval.  It gains the needed strength to carry on.

Consider your gifts, your talents, your vocation, and your circumstances as a special trust from God with which to serve Him by serving others.

Remember that you are responsible not for doing all the good that needs to be done in the world but for doing what God has planned for you.

All of us can administer the kind or encouraging word to do the little, perhaps unseen, deed that makes life more pleasant for someone.

PRAYER

Acknowledge your need for His divine grace to enlarge your soul and enable you to look beyond yourself to the concerns and needs of those around you.