In the previous issue we considered God’s attribute of righteousness. The attribute of goodness is often considered to be synonymous with righteousness. However, we shall see that one can be righteous in all his ways_doing all things according to God’s law and the civil law, upright, honest, fair, not playing favorites, having no respect of persons_and yet not be characterized as being "good." Goodness goes beyond carrying out the letter of the law; it includes the qualities of kindness, benevolence, good will, compassion. Mercy and grace can probably be considered as special aspects of goodness; we will consider these attributes of God in a later issue, Lord willing.

To exemplify the distinction between righteousness and goodness, suppose a landlord charges fair rental rates, carries out his responsibilities in maintaining the property, and only evicts the tenant who does not keep his part of the contract. Such a landlord would be considered righteous. However, if a tenant cannot pay the rent because he has lost his job, the landlord has the privilege_if he is a good man_of not evicting the tenant and of helping him to find a job.

If I slip on my neighbor’s icy sidewalk and break a leg, I have a legal right to sue him for damages. However, I have the privilege of being an example to him of Christ in doing good to him by not suing him, and further, by helping him in the future to keep his sidewalks shoveled.

The distinction between righteousness and goodness is made in Rom. 5:7,8; "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." The apostle is saying here that it is very rare for a man to lay down his life to rescue one who is an upright man. Somewhat more frequently, but still rarely, a man may die for one who is a "good" person_one who has shown kindness and benevolence as well as honesty, fairness, and uprightness in the past. In stark contrast, Christ died for us who were neither good nor righteous, but sinners.

God is not only perfectly holy and righteous, He is also good. His goodness is frequently attested to by the Scriptures; let us look at some samples:

God revealed Himself in His varied attributes to Moses:"The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth" (Exod. 34:6).

The goodness of God was a comfort to David in the presence of his enemies:"Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually" (Psa. 52:1).

God in His goodness provides us with temporal blessings:"Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it; Thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water; Thou preparest them corn, when Thou hast so provided for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly; Thou settlest the furrows thereof; Thou makest it soft with showers; Thou blessest the springing thereof. Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness; and Thy paths drop fatness. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness; and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing" (Psa. 65:8-13).

God’s goodness is mentioned repeatedly in Psa. 107, beginning with the opening verse:"O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever." We read in this psalm of different ways the Lord has delivered His people:He has redeemed them from the hand of the enemy (1-9); delivered them from bondage and prison brought about by their own rebellion (10-16); delivered from sickness and death, again brought about by their own foolishness and transgressions (17-22); and delivered from storms of judgment and persecution (23-32). Each type of deliverance called forth the exclamation, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" (verses 8,15,21,31).

It is not God’s righteousness so much but His "goodness" that "leadeth thee to repentance" (Rom. 2:4). But those who reject Him will some day have to face the "righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds" (verses 5,6).

We do not always appreciate the goodness of God, especially when it is manifested toward those who may be our enemies or toward whom we may have some bad feelings. Jonah was like this. After preaching the destruction of Nineveh, the capital of the kingdom of Assyria, one of Israel’s enemies, Jonah was chagrined to find that the Lord, in His goodness, withdrew His judgment when the people of Nineveh repented of their wickedness.

God the Son, like God the Father, was characterized by goodness:

"God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil" (Acts 10:38).

"And a certain ruler asked Him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 18:18).

"I am the good shepherd:the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep" (John 10:11,14).

"Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from My Father; for which of those works do ye stone Me?" (John 10:32).

The believer in Christ is called upon to imitate God (Eph. 5:1) with regard to manifesting goodness to others. In fact, if the Holy Spirit, who indwells each believer, is allowed to have control of us, then we will manifest the fruit of the Spirit which includes "goodness" among other qualities (Gal. 5:22).

Along with the exhortation to "offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually," we are called upon not to forget to "do good and to communicate" (Heb. 13:15,16), that is, to share our time, energy, talents, material goods, etc. with others who are in need.

To be effective ministers of God_shepherding, counseling, and seeking to help those who have fallen into sin, are having emotional problems, and the like_we need to be "full of goodness" as well as "filled with all knowledge" (Rom. 15:14). In other words, I may know that my brother has fallen into some sin, and may go and admonish him concerning that sin; but unless I am filled with goodness_an attitude of wanting to help the other person rather than showing off my knowledge and self-righteousness_I may end up repelling rather than helping my brother. (See also Gal. 6:1 in this regard.)

Our display of goodness is not to be limited to those who are good to us:"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5:43-45). A historical event recorded in the Old Testament beautifully illustrates the display of goodness to one’s enemies. In 2 Kings 6:8-23 we read how the Lord miraculously smote the Syrian army with blindness and delivered the army into the hand of Elisha, prophet of Israel. But when the King of Israel asked Elisha if he should kill them, Elisha responded that the enemies should rather be given food and drink and sent back home. Perhaps the apostle Paul had this episode in mind when he wrote:"If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head [that is, cause him to blush with shame or remorse at such unexpected kindness]. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:20,21).

May we be encouraged and motivated by Christ’s supreme example_His unequalled goodness in laying down His life for us, His enemies_to manifest goodness to those with whom we come in contact each day.