What does it mean to be good?
Good is very relative. If I kill someone, I am not a good person; if I break into someone’s house and rob them of their possessions, I’m not a good person.
If I harbor ill will towards a coworker, I can still be a good person if I keep it to myself; if I borrow something and forget to return it, that happens from time to time, and I could still be considered a good person.
We can easily say Hitler was bad, and your grandmother is good. Or if you make a mistake, you can justify it because at least you’re not as bad as so and so.
The problem with thinking that you are good is that it leaves you feeling you don’t need help. As I am, I am good enough.
Good is not perfect, and God doesn’t accept good enough into heaven. It goes against God’s perfect, holy being to lower His standard of perfection to your standards of good enough.
In Mark 10:17-27, we read of a man who thought he was good and wanted to know what it takes to make it into heaven.
17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”
The first thing that jumps out is that Jesus doesn’t respond with, “Thank you, why yes, I am good.” Instead, Jesus’ response is, “Why do you call me good?”
The young man is correct in calling Jesus good, but he is confused by what good is. He thinks he is good by saying he has kept all of the Mosaic Law. But Jesus points out that only God can be good.
If only God can be good, how is it possible to think that we are good? To do so would severely underestimate the Almighty’s goodness.
After Jesus lists out the commandments, the young man’s response is, “I have kept these.” Essentially, through my actions, I have proven to be a good person worthy of God’s kingdom.
We see next Jesus’s response to that thinking.
21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Jesus goes right to the heart of the young man’s issues. He has put his faith in his possessions and not in God. He made money his idol and coveted the things of the world above heavenly things.
The young man failed to uphold the law.
Jesus goes on.
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is[b] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
This is not a verse condemning the rich to hell. This is a verse about who we find our identity in. Who do we put our trust in – in the world or God? The young man chose the world over the promises of God.
He thought he was good enough because he followed the Old Testament Law. The law was never meant to save but to point to the promised one, the one that could fulfill the law.
Jesus does tell us how we are saved.
26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him,[c] “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
We are saved through the grace of God, through the blood of His son Jesus. Good and bad people all suffer the same fate. Only the ones who put their faith and identity in Jesus will be saved.
For in Jesus’ death, our sins are forgiven. So we are no longer just good enough; we are considered perfect and righteous in God’s sight.
