Living the Good Life
Why was it good?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Gal
5:22-23 (NASB)
Today we are going to look at goodness. How would you define the word
“good”? It is a word we use a lot. We talk about good food and good weather.
We say, “Have a good day” or “He did a good job” or “It’s a good distance from
here.” Many times we say, “I had a good time.” The word is used in a lot of
many different ways. If you look up the words “good” and “goodness” in the
dictionary you will fine different categories for the word with three or four
different uses or illustrations under each category.
Likewise, the Greek and Hebrew words “good and “goodness” in the Bible are
varied and full of meaning. The Bible has much to say about goodness. One
phrase we hear often is “living the good life. But what is the good life?
WHAT IS THE GOOD LIFE?
For some people the good life means “looking good. Looking good is serious
business. Color coordination, hairdos, fashion – whatever it takes – we want to
look good. We place a high premium on good looks. But do you know the
problem with looking good? There is no universal standard. What looks good to
you may not look good to me and vice versa. Looking good means different
things to different people – and what is in fashion one day may be out of
fashion the next.
Some people think the good life means “feeling good”. That may mean sitting in
a hot tub – going on vacation – having a good meal – or just sitting down and
reading a book. Just finding what feels good and doing it. Still other people
think the good life means “having goods”. They set about acquiring stuff – they
like all their stuff but they want more stuff – but then they find that all their
stuff won’t fit inside the place that they have – so they get a bigger place so
they can have more stuff. They live the bumper sticker slogan – “The one with
the most toys wins”. For these people the purpose life is to make money so you
can get more stuff. They have stuffed their lives full of stuff.
The Bible presents a radically different picture of the good life. God says in his
Word says that the good life is not based on looking good – feeling good – or
having goods. God says the good life is a life filled with goodness.
But what exactly is goodness?
In Genesis chapter one after God creates the universe it says:
“God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was
evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” Gen 1:31 (NASB)
Because it was exactly the way God intended it to be. It was fulfilled the
purpose for which it was created. “Goodness” means fulfilling a purpose. It is
being what God meant you to be. God made you for a purpose. When you live
the way God intends for you to live – you will be good in God’s eyes. Your life
will become meaningful. You will feel that you are doing what God intended
you to do.
What does God intend to you do?
Ephesians 2:10 says:
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
Go ahead and circle the words – “for good works”. We are God’s workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus – “to do good works”. We are not saved “by” good works
– we are saved “for” good works. The Christian lifestyle is to be a lifestyle of
doing good – living in goodness.
WE ARE NOT NATURALLY GOOD
But there is a problem – “it is not our nature to be good”. We were all born
with a natural inclination toward selfishness. We all like to have our way.
Goodness cannot come from human effort. Even Paul, a Pharisee of the
strictest order, could not force every part of his person to embody goodness.
Romans 7:18-19
18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful
nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it
out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—
this I keep on doing.
The Bible says:
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Rom 3:23 (NASB)
The Old Testament puts it this way:
“All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way.”
Isa 53:6a (NASB)
No – there is none of us who are naturally good. In fact even Jesus made this
statement:
“No one is good except God alone.” Mark 10:18b (NASB
Sometimes I just want to be selfish.
Sometimes I am just plain mean.
Sometimes I am lazy.
Sometimes I just don’t care.
Sometimes I can hardly stand being around myself.
But folk here is a fact:
GOD WORKS IN US AND THROUGH US AT THE SAME TIME
Do you recall the verse we read earlier from Ephesians? It says:
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Eph 2:10 (NASB)
Look at the first phrase there.
Our good works were ordained by God. The natural extension of faith in Christ
is good works in Christ's name.
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus” – this means that God is at
work in our lives. He knows a stubborn hearts. He knows are selfishness. He
knows our rebellion. Yet he is still at work in us and through us.
Philippians 2:13 says:
“It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
By God’s grace and power he is changing us.
Living the Good Life
1. MASTER the WORD of God, “become a student of God’s Word.” Read the
Bible – Study the Bible – Memorize the Bible. Fill you mind with it – fill your life
with it. You have only two sources from which to develop your values – the
world or the Word. The choice is up to you.
Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be
adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Tim. 3:16-17
Master the Bible if you want to do good. It is not enough to own a Bible – you
have to use it. A Bible in the hand is worth two on the shelf. If I were to ask you
if you believe the Bible from cover to cover you would probably say you do. But
have you read it from cover to cover? How do you know you believe it if you
don’t even know what is in it? Perhaps you are saying, “Well – I don’t
understand the Bible.” Let me ask, “Did you understand math before you
studied it?” We all had to learn that one plus one equals two. We started out
simple. Do the same thing with the Bible. Get a good translation – one you can
understand and start reading. Perhaps start in the Psalms or in Mark. Just read.
Are you going to understand it all? No! Neither do I – but I understand some
and sometimes – some is enough. Mark Twain once said, “It’s not the parts of
the Bible that I don’t understand that bother me, it’s the part that I do
understand.”
2. GUARD Your Mind if you want to do good – learn to control what goes on
inside your mind. Proverbs 23:7 says:
“For as he thinks within himself, so he is.” Proverbs 23:7a
Sin always starts in the mind. Satan plants ideas – called temptations – in your
head. If you nurture these temptations in your mind – they will become reality
in your life. Sin always starts in your mind – so guard your mind. Some things
are not worth thinking about. Some things are not worth worrying about. Some
things are not worth watching. Some things are not worth reading. Some things
are not worth listening to. Guard your mind. Philippians 4:8 says:
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any
excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians
4:8 (NASB)
3. DEVELOP Convictions – if you want to learn to do good – develop
convictions. What do you stand for? It has been said that if you don’t stand for
something you will fall for anything.
We love to appear open-minded. The problem is that some people are so open-
minded that their brains fall out! They don’t stand for anything. Do you know
the difference between an opinion and a conviction? An opinion is something
that you hold – a conviction is something that holds you. An opinion is
something you will argue about. A conviction is something you will suffer and
die for. Do you realize that Christians are supposed to hate some things?
Romans 12:9 says:
“Hate what is evil. Do only what is good.” Romans 12:9b (ERV)
This is pretty clear – we are supposed to hate evil. We are supposed to love
people – but if they do evil – we are to hate the evil that they do. That leads us
to the fourth suggestion in being ready to do good.
4. DARE To Be Different
To learn to do good – you must have the courage to be different from your “One can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three
culture. John tells us: strands is not quickly torn apart.” Ecc 4:12 (NASB)

“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good
is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.” 3 John 1:11
Do you remember the story of the three young Israelite men who wouldn’t bow
down to the statue of King Nebuchadnezzar and were thrown into the fiery
furnace? (Dan. 3) When you are a person of integrity, you are going to go
through the fire. You can count on it.
Speaking of heat – are you a thermostat or a thermometer? You are one or the
other. A thermometer “registers” the temperature. It simply reflects its
environment – whether it’s hot or cold. A thermostat on the other hand,
“controls” the temperature. It influences its environment – it sets the standard.
Which are you – a thermometer or a thermostat? Folks you have a choice – you
can either be an influence on the world or be influenced by the world. The Bible
says:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good
and acceptable and perfect.” Rom 12:2 (NASB)
And if you want to be ready to do good:
5. FELLOWSHIP With Other Believers
One quality of the early Christians was that they supported one another. They
met together regularly to challenge and encourage one another. The author of
Hebrews tells us:
As Christians we need one another. I encourage you to fellowship with other
believers. The Christian life is not easy but it is eternally worthwhile. Doing good
is not always easy but there is a reward. Galatians 6:9 says:
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not
grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,
and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Gal 6:9-10
(NASB)
CONCLUSION:
Matthew 12:35 (NIV)
35
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil
man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
God is good. Through the work of the Holy Spirit in us, God reproduces His
goodness in our hearts, and it shows in our lives. This goodness empowers us to
live lives characterized by the desire to act righteously and for the practical
benefit of others. As others see the work of God in us, they will "give glory to
your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
16 In
the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your
good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who
promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love
and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of
some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day
drawing near.” Heb 10:23-25 (NASB)

Our fellowship with other believers is designed to encourage us to live good

lives in an evil world. As Christians we are not to imitate the world but neither
are we to live in isolation from it. To do this we need one another. You don’t
find soldiers going out on their own to do battle with enemy forces. They go in
groups because there is strength in numbers. The Bible says: