What Is Good ?

Everyone seems to want what’s good these days. The problem is the fact that what is good for you isn’t necessarily what's good for me.  Webster dictionary defines good as “to be desired or approved of” or “that which is morally right or righteous.”  We desire good food, (no, sushi does not fall under that category) we desire to be “good” enough to make the team, or we hope for a “good” outcome. Good by the world's definition means that we have been approved by man or approved in what we deem is best.  It puts complete control in human nature. Tim Keller said it best when he said “there is darkness in the human heart, so why do we get to determine what is good?” 

Now take a look at our second definition: that which is morally right or righteous. I could get on board with this definition, except that today we’ve made a mockery over what is moral or righteous. What is moral and righteous to me may not be to you. Wait! I’ve heard that before? In those days, Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” Judges 21:25.  If by nature, we are sinners, how is it then that we can actually know, and exemplify that which is good? From a human perspective, the ultimate drive of what is good comes from what is self gratifying.  

During the creation of the world, God sets the standard for what is good. “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good.” (Gen 1:31) When God looked over all He had made it was good in the sense that its purpose in the Creation account was to reflect who He was and what it was supposed to do; worship Him. (Psalm 19:1, Romans 1:20, Psalm 148:3-5) 

The parenting struggle is real, my friends. While behavior and obedience are good, my job as their mother isn’t to only point out their good, but to walk alongside them, pointing them to their Heavenly Father who knows not just good, but what’s best. How kind is God to give us a playbook to help guide and direct their hearts.  Micah 6:8 says ” No, O people the Lord has told you what is good and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” 

To do what is right.

In order to guide our children in what is right, we need to first acknowledge God and His Word. It is through quiet time and prayer, I am able to seek what the Lord is calling me to exemplify. Asking my kids to be good means I acknowledge the standard by which God has set. My children’s hearts stand prey to the desires of the flesh. Each and every day the choice to do what is right knocks at the door of their hearts and it knocks at my own as well.  From “stop hitting your brother” to “let’s discuss what staying pure looks like”  is a daily temptation to fall into self rather than to do what is right.  (Romans 8:13) 

Love Mercy

Mercy is not getting what we deserve. As believers we know we deserve death (Romans 6:23) I can recognize this and yet, why is loving people still so hard?  Love Mercy. Do you hear it? Love those who don’t always deserve your best.  The moment I’m pushing a cart. when I’m driving my car, speaking to my kids' teacher, or watching my own children grow through the hurt of someone else. Love. Mercy. Oh and also, model this for the good of my kids?  Ok I give up.  When everything in me wants to respond in a way, I would deem “right”  may I remember our merciful Lord and Savior who spared me from the death I deserved. Oh that prayer would be the precursor to the moments when I feel anything but merciful.  

Walk Humbly 

If God says humility is good, then we must be aware that Satan will use anything in our lives to build up our pride. There is a platform at our fingertips. Every moment of every day we have the ability to create some form of reality that makes us look good. Not only look good, but feel good. Who doesn’t enjoy being liked and followed? The battle of pride rests in the hearts of all humans. God calls us to walk humbly. Walk. Not race ahead, not worry and not to wander when we don’t get our way.  Rather to walk step by step with our Heavenly Father, humbly. To model this for our children we need to consistently talk about WHOSE they are over WHO they are. Sure it's fun to post about something they did that makes us and them look good. Yes, there are benefits to social media these days, but as parents we need to be very careful not to let social media play into the pride of our own lives. It is when we draw near to them by acknowledging God  has given them every talent, gift and blessing from above that pride cannot seep into the very core of their hearts and ours. 

So how do we imperfect parents, raising imperfect children, possibly model for them what is good? We can’t. In all my efforts and on my very best days, I can’t truly exemplify what is good. I can’t always do what is right, love mercy and walk humbly; that pesky sin nature gets in my way. I can however acknowledge that I am in fact not good. That my need and their need  for a Savior is the only good thing. What’s the best part? We don’t do it alone. He guides and leads. He is what is good and I cling to that. We place it all in our Heavenly Father’s hands trusting that He alone knows what is good for them and for us. Perfectly good.