Sometimes church words are hard to understand. Goodness isn't one of those words. A three year old can point a television screen and show you the "good guy." From an early age we are taught that being good deserves good things and being bad deserves bad things. The problem is when we bring this idea into our faith. It's hard for us to understand that good works don't = good things (heaven, forgiveness, grace, etc.).
We tend to think of our goodness as a spiritual seesaw. If we can just do a little more good than bad then we'll be okay. The problem is the weight. Our goodness could never out weight the sin in our lives. So on one hand our goodness isn't really worth that much. But look how Paul follows up this sobering thought.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:8-10
Our good works can't save us and yet God has created us to do good works. So how do we cultivate goodness in our lives? How do we live out this goodness that comes from a relationship with Christ? We looked at another passage from Paul. This isn't the only way to be good, but it was something worth thinking about.
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. - 1 Timothy 6:17-19
Most of us wouldn't consider ourselves rich, but when children just 20 miles from us go to sleep hungry, it's a hard arguement to make. This Thursday we are traveling down to Shepherd Community to spread some goodness in downtown Indianapolis. I can't wait to see goodness grow in the hearts of our students!
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