“Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father who made the heavenly lights, in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow” James 1:17 (ISV)
Humans have a natural inability to discern the worth of a thing by face value. We seldom separate what we can see from what we can’t see, because we cannot see a person’s motives. All too often we make a black and white assessment by what is visibly showing itself. While it is easy to be deceived by what we see, we can also be self-deceived in the very same context, classifying ourselves as good according to what we outwardly do. I have heard many people say that they were “a good person”. This is usually a statement of defense of themselves–concerning their own righteousness–and is probably expressing their opinion of how God should view them. If they truly feel this way, how did they come to this persuasion? Are they deceived? More importantly, what does God have to say about this?
Do we equate doing good things with being a good person? Do good people have the ability to be bad? Do bad people ever do anything good? Human opinions vary on these questions, and--aside from speculation, don't always reflect insight or passion. How much we do or do not care about others compared to ourselves determines the righteousness (fairness, equity) of judging others and ourselves. The purpose of this writing is to take our view of everything “good” in this realm to a higher view that we may see things as they really are, adding wisdom to our vision and understanding.
"As it is written, ‘Not even one person is righteous..’;” Romans 3:10, (ISV) There is really no such thing as “good people” in the sense of having a superior expression of the human nature. Our unrefined, un-regenerated state of being without God puts us all in the same category as a species. While those who consider themselves wise divide us up into categories of worth, class, and status, this is just a part of the delusion. We are not a race of good people with a few bad apples in the barrel. We are all of the same stuff, with the potential for good and bad. But the good shines brighter in the world, and keeps us always hopeful for more of the same.
It is no accident that we have the ability to be generous, kind and loving, for we have inherited the genes of our Maker. We experience it at a lowered capacity, but we have acquired beautiful attributes. What proof that God is a benevolent being! It is apparent in the majority of structures around us, and in most people--in varying degrees. Civilized governments, with all their errors, still cater to humanitarian issues. Even oppressed people under dictatorships stick together and help each other as much as possible. The only reason we aren't totally loving and compassionate all the time is because of our natural concerns for our own lives--which come first. But there is a consistent, unstoppable flow of something deep inside of mankind that exhibits compassion and concern for others when there is need for it.
For example, starting on a small scale, I may give groceries for a local food drive. Someone else donates clothes for the needy. Money is given to help pay for an operation for a child whose parent just lost their job. Blood is given to the Red Cross. A man who is guilty of domestic violence dives into a river to pull strangers out of a sinking car. People take temporary leave from work to help victims of a tornado in another state. Countries send airplanes full of aid and rescue workers to assist another country devastated by an earthquake, and medical professionals volunteer their time to comfort the afflicted. Any of these things could have been done for a number of reasons. But the truth of the matter is, they do happen all the time.
And, these charitable acts and rescue missions have nothing to do with religious affiliation, even though many religiously oriented groups take part. But so do atheistic nations, countries with a variety of religious beliefs, and individuals from various categories. Why do we do good things for people we don’t know? Why do we randomly get involved in experiences that are foreign to us otherwise in our daily lives? Why do we put our lives on hold to help people in another country?
There can be a variety of reasons why, and while most people don’t make a habit of living selflessly, all kinds of humans rise to the occasion of giving whenever there is a call for it. So it seems like there are a lot of good people–all kinds of people, believers in God or otherwise. But, still, God sent his Son to die for us because there were none who could pass the test of possessing equity and fairness all the time. None would give of themselves all the time. Neither could they know the perfect will of God for each life born into this realm.
We will never know the number of tragedies that didn’t occur because the hand of the invisible creator intervened. And all outcomes every day in every life are under the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent control of God. Acts of goodness that continually show themselves among us are not because of a natural human goodness, but are because of a divine goodness that rises up in any or all of us as needed. How does that happen, even in those who don’t know God?
When Christ died, he enlivened the whole “soul” realm of death and darkness with light. He empowered it with His Holy Spirit so that each person born could be affected for God’s sovereign needs and for their own spiritual awakening--in their time. That potential lies dormant until we receive our call, but it exists in every man. This residing “receiver”, if you will--though hidden from man--responds to the Creator, expressing to mankind (through mankind) the outpouring of concern coming from His heart.
Because Christ is hidden in us, whether we know him yet or not, our heavenly Father controls the outcomes of all situations. He motivates the otherwise unlovely to act heroically. He moves on the selfish to provide for the poor. He overtakes the heart of the godless regime leader to send aid across the planet. He plants thoughts and impulses in the minds of all he needs to act and speak for Him as he unveils his great love and compassion for all men. It matters not–for the moment–if the vessel has become awakened to the source of Truth within him, because the will of man is secondary to God’s predestined plans.
The next time we are tempted to think of ourselves as good, we must remember in whose likeness we were formed. If our God was not first good, neither would we be. Our Father is the source of all loving acts because He abides in the depth of the human nature. He leads the brigade of good persons, causing them to do and be as is needed at any given time. Jesus was first and foremost a servant, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) overseeing the flock of mankind. Obviously, his creation (us) would also have hidden within themselves a desire to serve. His inherent goodness in us sings praises to him who works all things after the counsel of His own will. (Eph 1:11) Isn't that good news!
