In Touch - April 19, 2005

Tuesday April 19, 2005

The Goodness of God

Psalm 116

 

God’s goodness is another characteristic of His that is infinite and unchanging. As a result, everything He does is good. We may look at some difficult aspect of our life and feel that God has not manifested this characteristic to us. However, our confusing situations and limited understanding in no way change who He is. A circumstance may not be good, but God’s goodness is not at all dependent upon that.

 

Scripture tells us that God is good to all, (Psalm 145:9) and that He does not show favoritism. (Romans 2:11) Either the Bible is telling the truth that God shows His beneficence to everyone, or else the Bible is false, and God is good only when and to whom He chooses. Sometimes we would like Him to be more partial with His generosity when we see “bad” people doing well. Jesus said that the Lord “causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). We may try to argue that wicked people don’t deserve good treatment. But we must remember that we as believers don’t deserve God’s favor, either. He gives it freely because His nature is to be good to those He loves, and He loves the whole world—both believers and unbelievers.

 

Here’s the difference. If we desire the fullness of God’s goodness, we must believe in Him, receive His love, and live obediently. To those who love Him and walk in His righteousness, He pours out the completeness of His favor eternally—nothing is withheld. (Psalm 84:11-12)

 

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