Good Job! That was a really good movie. Now that's a good steak. We throw around the word "good" in our culture to describe a satisfying effort or pleasurable experience. We tell people to have a good day or good time, etc. We tell our little ones to a be a good girl or good boy, referring to acceptable behavior. I even tell my dog, "good boy," when he cooperates taking his medicine or obeys on command.
But in this passage Jesus clearly teaches that only God is good. When in comparison to God's goodness everything else is less than good. Creation, God declared, was good because He did it. Although man without a suitable companion God said was not good. But He soon remedied that. Yet, because of the condition of man's heart and sin then entered the world through man, according to Rom. 8:18ff, even creation itself groans for redemption.
Most people I meet consider themselves to be good people, especially if they are church going people. Yet compared to God's nature we lack a great deal when it comes to goodness. What's interesting in today's passage, if we read on further in Mk. 10, the young man who came to Jesus was looking to justify himself and assure his standing with God. He was a law abiding, church going, wealthy, outstanding, well-respected citizen. Yet, Jesus revealed the young man's selfishness and pride and lack of true goodness when He told him to sell all he had, give it to the poor, and follow Him. Truth is he loved his wealth more than people or Jesus.
I guess I have to identify with Paul in Rom. 7. The good I try to do, I can't do. I'm really a mess. Just like Paul I need rescuing from myself. Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ. God thanks for freeing me sin and death, for cancelling my condemnation. Thanks for your Holy Spirit you put in me and your Word to mold me into the image of your son.
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