Sunday, July 18th, 2010
The Goodness of God
Every time we have a terrorist attack, a school shooting, or an earthquake where lives are lost, who usually gets blamed? More than Al Quaeda, or rap artists, more than the government, more than FEMA, who gets blamed? God.
People start asking “How can a good God allow this to happen? How can God be good?”
Maybe you’ve had a friend ask this question while going through cancer. Maybe you’ve been tempted to ask it.
Well to begin with, we know that suffering is often a direct result of sin-drunk drivers kill, violent criminals murder, corrupt governments cause famines. And suffering is often an indirect result of sin. The Fall has given us a world ravaged by disease and disasters.
It’s not God’s fault that people are sinning. It’s not God’s fault that we live under a Curse. Yes, God is good. In fact He uses even these evil acts and natural disasters for good.
Rom. 8:28 reminds us “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God…” God can use even our suffering for His glory and our good.
God is good and kind. And this evening we come to the 5th fruit of the Spirit, we find the Greek word chrestotes. In Gal. 5, this word is translated “gentleness,” but the other 9x it occurs in the NT, it’s translated “goodness” or “kindness.”
It refers to providing what someone’s needs. A concern to treat others gently. Sometimes we call this God’s common grace-that everyone experiences.
Matt. 5:45 says that He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good. He sends the rain on the just and the unjust. He gives food and air and pleasure and beauty to everyone on the planet. No matter who you are, God has been good to you.
God is good. God is kind. Are you? Are you kind? Would your friends describe you that way? Are you concerned with treating others gently? Are you concerned about meeting people’s needs?” You say “sometimes.” The Bible says this should be true all the time.
This is a fruit of the Spirit. If you’re saved, if you have the Spirit in you-this is a fruit that should be growing in your life every day.
