Who Defines Good?  

You've read of: 

Good character...good deeds...good fruit...good fish...good fight

No one is good but God alone. Luke 18:19

Good gifts...good law...good lives...good man...good medicine 

There is only One who is good. Matt. 19:17

Good name...good news...good pasture...good purpose...good reputation

There is no one who does good. Ps. 14:1; 53:3; Rom. 3:12

Good soil...good seed...good servant...good shepherd...good things 

Everything God created is good. 1 Timothy 4:4

Good tidings...good trees...good will...good way...good works

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Ps. 34:8

   So, what are we to think? Timothy writes: Godliness has value for all things. Godliness with contentment is great gain. Peter writes: You ought to live holy and godly lives. 

   If none of us are righteous, how can we Turn from evil and do good? Ps. 34:14 

   Jesus (only One is good) refers to the "good" in us: He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good. Matt. 5:45  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him. Matt. 12:35 

   Language, human definitions - not especially perfect. As early believers began to practice goodness, as the Bible teaches, there has been good in the world. Yet, atheists are capable of heroism, generosity and sacrifice. And what may be evil to us could be "good" to others. Woe to those who call evil good. Isa. 5:20 

   "I can't honestly address good and evil without first dealing with my self-centeredness, rationalization and petty resentments." - Janie B. Cheaney. 

   "Real goodness," she writes, "is for God to define and God's to judge." 

        Jimmy