-“No Good”-

You can probably think of a lot of things that are ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ On the ‘good’ side could be your favorite meal (maybe a steak or lobster?), or a message from an old friend. How about an unexpected check? Finding a $20 bill in your favorite old jeans might be in that category.

On the ‘bad’ side could be many things: a flat in the rain, an audit from dear old ‘Uncle Sam’, a pink slip or a bad grade on the test you thought you did okay on. Those are some of the simple little bummers that you might encounter. Of course, there are far better ‘goods’ or far worse ‘bads.’ Last week a couple had a pretty good ‘good.’ They had a baby girl born on 9-9-09. Funny thing is they also had a baby born on 8-8-08! (No plans for ’10 however!). Bless her heart, Taylor Swift could probably name a ‘bad’ after having the mic ripped from her hand while trying to make an acceptance speech at a music award the other day!

All of these are simple little ‘goods’ or ‘bads.’ In my ‘line of work’, so to speak, I see people trying to DO good all the time. Try to be one of those myself. Friend of mine quoted W.H. Auden (teacher and writer) the other day: “We are here on Earth to do good to others. What the others are here for, I don't know.” Funny & true. While this altruism & goodwill is admirable, there’s a little more to life than that, but give me just a bit more space.

I also meet folks who try to BE good. Again, I aim to place myself in that category, as well. I agree that we should strive to be the best we can be always. Unfortunately, I find myself in the company of the Apostle Paul & many of you, I fear, when he said, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.” Romans 7:15-18 NLT. Yep, I guess I’m right there with him; good for nothin’!
We also run across people all the time who want to HAVE good. They’re all about all of the good things in life. Consumption at it’s best! Thankfully, I don’t have Caviar tastes on my McDonald salary! But, sure I like the good things of life to some degree. It’s just not my do all-be all of life. Sadly, there are those who must have the ‘good’ things of life even if it means rob, kill or steal. Don’t believe me? Just turn on the news tonight or check your paper.

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.”
Mark 10:18 NLT

There’s a story in the gospels of a man who ran to Jesus. Matthew & Luke tell that he was actually a synagogue, or church ruler. He HAD all kinds of ‘good’ stuff & apparently, by his own admission, had tried to BE and DO good. He started blowing smoke at Jesus about all this as the first thing out of his mouth was, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’ answer cut straight to the heart of the issue: having, doing, or being ‘good.’ He reminded the man that only God was truly good. The man wanted to know how to earn a spot in heaven. Jesus gave a list of some commandments that involved ‘doing’ and ‘being’ good. The reaction, ‘why, I’ve done all that stuff since I was a kid!’ Jesus surmised (or perhaps in His Godhood he KNEW the reality-another discussion for another day) that the man had really NOT kept all these commands perfectly. He went on to the real heart of the matter: “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”

Sad picture of a sad man trying to ‘DO’ good & ‘BE’ good & ‘HAVE’ good too. What was more important? Apparently, it was the latter? What all this comes down to for you an me is the only way to really ‘DO’ good is to ‘BE’ good, and the only really way to ‘BE’ good is having Jesus in our lives. He’s really the only true good. Then, we’ll HAVE what’s really good. May not be the top of the list of consumer cravings, but it will truly satisfy. Jesus said,
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Matt. 6:33 NLT


www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport.
Dave Jackson on facebook
ASUN website www.bcmasunewport.org
Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org
Cell: 870-217-9376
Dave’s Desk - http://bcmasunewport.blogspot.com