GOD IS SO GOOD

“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked. “No one is good except God alone” – Mark 10:18

Jesus was on His final journey to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, where He Himself would be the Passover Lamb slain for the sins of the world. As He walked along with His disciples, a young man ran up to Him, knelt down in front of Him and asked, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (vs.17). The label “Good Teacher” was an unusual form of address. In all of Jewish religious literature, no rabbi was ever called good. Only God and His law were considered to be good. Jesus replied, “Why do you call Me good?” No one is good except God alone” (vs.18). This was not a denial of His deity, but rather an opportunity for the rich young ruler to confess his faith in Christ’s divinity. He unfortunately did not!

Christ’s statement tells us that God is good; and is indeed, the only one who can rightfully be called good. The word ‘good’ refers to what is excellent in character or constitution and beneficial in effect. The Old Testament synonyms include: agreeable, benevolent, excellent, pleasant, and valuable. God’s Goodness encompasses the perfections of His Person and the kindness of His acts: “You are good and do good” (Psa.119:68). God is so good; He is the Ideal Person, the sum total of all perfection. There are no defects or contradictions in Him. Nothing can be added to His nature to make Him any better. He is Excellence to an infinite degree, possessing every desirable quality, hence, of inestimable value. God is so good!

Being Himself the highest and greatest good, He is also the Fountain and Source of all other good. He does good things and extends His goodness to others. It is His nature to be benevolent, kind, and generous, and to demonstrate good will toward mankind. In His goodness, He wants us to have all that we need for fulfilment in life. Every good thing we enjoy or ever hope to enjoy flows from Him, and no good thing has ever existed or ever will exist that does not flow from Him (Jam.1:17). No one but God is infinitely, innately, and immutably good. All goodness that exists outside of Him finds its source in Him. The humbling fact is that whatever good to be found in you came from God, for you are incapable of producing it yourself.

Everything God does is good, tailored for your benefit. He is all-good. He can do nothing but what is absolutely best. He need never be reminded to be good. He cannot possibly be otherwise. Never take His goodness for granted. Never doubt His goodness. Learn to praise God for His goodness: “Praise the LORD for the LORD is good: sing praises to His name; for it is pleasant” (Psa.135:3).