Paul’s letter to Titus, ‘my true son in our common faith’ has a number of serious instructions using the word ‘good’.
The first mention is regarding the appointing of elders.
8 Rather, he must be hospitable, one who LOVES what is GOOD, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. Titus 1
Paul’s first recommendation for an elder, by the Spirit, is that he be hospitable. Welcoming of people into his home, an unexpected choice perhaps. The elder must also be one who LOVES what is GOOD; has an attitude of heart that seeks the Good. This may be a PROTECTION FOR US in the times we live in!
3 But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, NOT LOVERS OF THE GOOD, … 2 Timothy 3:3
In the second Book of Timothy, Paul describes what it will be like in the last days and in the middle of his long list regarding corrupted humanity he says people will NOT BE ‘Lovers of Good’. Unless we are ‘Lovers of Good’, setting ourselves to pursue Goodness and God Himself, we may literally be swamped by the evil around us. We cannot afford to just drift along or go with the flow in these times!
Paul then gives Titus some strong advice regarding the people of Crete, where Paul had left him.
10 For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, … Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith … 15 TO THE PURE, ALL THINGS ARE PURE (they don’t think that way), but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and UNFIT FOR DOING ANYTHING GOOD.
These people’s ‘minds and consciences’ were so tainted that Paul, by the Spirit, stated they were UNFIT to do anything Good. That’s not a place any of us ever want to find ourselves.
We end with some of Jesus’ words in Luke’s Gospel;
37 ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’ Luke 6
Be careful NOT TO JUDGE (there’s only one Judge) and BE A GENEROUS GIVER, BECAUSE THAT’S THE KINGDOM WAY TO BLESSING. WRONG JUDGEMENT CAN HINDER OUR BLESSINGS!
God bless and keep you today.