By: Dr. Jeff Fuller
Looking back over the years I see where being good has been reinforced in my life. Sometimes painfully and at other times with wise and gentle words. Both were used to make me look to the good side of life instead of the bad side. Actually, after many years I can say I am thankful for the guidance many have given.
Examples have come along the way which have been positive. Others have been negative. I have learned from these things a great deal and put them into the practice of being good.
Yet, we will justify ourselves with how good we are. Whether as a spouse, employee or an individual. The way others describe us confirms we are okay, and we are a good person. Many times, the confirmation is fuel to make us think we are good, when we are not.
Individuals may say, “He’s such a good person.” Or “she has such a good heart.”
At the beginning of Philippians 3, Paul points out the flaws found in this kind of thinking. We are chasing the concept of being good. So, when others see us being good, they applaud us, and we continue to attempt to do better on our own. It we are chasing goodness; we are chasing a moving target.
At all times we need to give up trying to be good enough in our own way and run to the One who is good enough, who is Holy. That my friends is the truth: God does not want us to be good, He desires we be Holy.
Anyone reading Paul’s letter who thought he or she was a good person, could see that Paul was better. He was in the right family; he went to the right schools; he followed the right path; but he says all of these were garbage compared to knowing Jesus Christ.
Notice how he writes in Philippians 3:
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” Philippians 3:8 (KJV)
Knowing Jesus is not about meeting a standard; it is about following a person. The relationship Paul has with Jesus was more fulfilling, more rewarding, more enjoyable than all the religious accomplishments of his past. Paul did good things not because he was trying to be good, but the good deeds performed were an overflow of the love he experienced from Jesus.
The same is true for us. When we put Jesus above everything else in our lives, we end up doing good things not because we have to, but because we want to.
After writing that everything in his life is worthless compared to knowing Jesus Christ, Paul goes on to say he has not lived up to Jesus’ example completely.
“Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 (HCSB)
Paul was not perfect. But he was willing to forget was behind him and strain toward what was ahead. He continued to give whole-hearted pursuit, surrendering himself to the ways of God and His purposes for His life. He was in full pursuit of an unchanging, unmovable target. To know Christ and to allow Him to live through his life.
Like Paul we need to give up trying to be good enough and run to the One who is enough. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Until next time…