What's Good?
I heard this topic discussed in a recent Sunday School class, and I enjoyed the lesson so much, I wanted to share it with you. Have you ever thought about the definition of the word, “good”? What does it mean to you? Typically, we think of definitions like “positive, happy, and right,” and those are all correct. But “good” has another meaning, and it’s imperative we understand this particular definition when reading and claiming God’s promises.
According to the online dictionary, the word “good” also means “benefit or advantage to someone or something.” Benefit. Advantage. Gain. Profit. Things that are good for us are things that will benefit us in some way, even if that gain is not immediately recognizable. Let’s face it, sometimes the things that are good for us are not exactly pleasant at the time. Like eating kale, for example. Or how about yearly physicals at the doctor? Or exercising (unless you’re one of those crazy people who actually like to sweat). Or putting money away in a savings account instead of spending it on the latest trends. Or saying “no” to your child, knowing it will cause a battle of wills and, most likely, a temper tantrum. These things are beneficial. They will help us in the long run though we tend to balk at them in the short term.
“The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. ”
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. ”
“Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. ”
“The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. ”
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ”
This is just a handful of verses promising that God will be good to those who love and serve Him. No good thing is lacking. Everything is working together for good. Good to all. So, if we use our typical definitions of the word “good,” these promises seem to fall short. How can a sick child be a good thing? How can anyone qualify divorce as good? Cancer. Foreclosure. Failure. None of these things belong in the same sentence with words such as positive, happy, or right. There’s nothing positive or happy about them, and they certainly don’t seem right. After all, when we’re serving God, we expect God to reward us with good things just like He promised.
And He is, just not in the way we expect. God uses things in our lives that may not appear good at the time but are for our benefit. He realizes it is trials and hardships that cause us to grow and become more like Him. Nothing He does in our lives—no matter how cruel it may seem at the time—is done out of spite or meanness. God doesn’t work that way. Instead, He is carefully molding us and making us into what we need to be. The process is long and often painful, but we can trust that the One performing the work knows exactly what He’s doing.
Is God good? Absolutely.
Is He working all things for our good? Without a doubt.
Will His work in our lives always feel good? Nope.
But is it worth it? I’ll let the psalmist answer that.
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. ”