What is Good
“Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.” - 3 John 1:11
Have you ever heard the phrase, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder?” Basically, what this quote means is that the value of something completely depends on the person in possession of it.
For instance, $1,000,000 holds a different value to you and me than it would to Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg. Many people, when giving advice about life, will tell you to find the things of value for you and pursue those things.
But that is not what Jesus says. Nor is it what the Bible instructs us to do. John says in 3 John 1:11, “Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.”
Did you catch that? He says, “Follow only what is good.” Now, money, nice homes, nice cars, large pieces of land...those are not “bad” things. These are things that are simply neutral. They are not good, and they are not bad.
But God also doesn’t say “follow what is neutral.” What He says is to follow what is GOOD. How do we know what is GOOD? We must learn! You say, “Pastor, how do I know what is good to God?”
Why don’t you ask Him? If we do not know what is good in the eyes of God, it might take getting to know God better. And that starts with communicating with Him! Why don’t you start by praying and asking Him to show you what His good and perfect will is for your life, today?
Have you ever heard the phrase, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder?” Basically, what this quote means is that the value of something completely depends on the person in possession of it.
For instance, $1,000,000 holds a different value to you and me than it would to Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg. Many people, when giving advice about life, will tell you to find the things of value for you and pursue those things.
But that is not what Jesus says. Nor is it what the Bible instructs us to do. John says in 3 John 1:11, “Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.”
Did you catch that? He says, “Follow only what is good.” Now, money, nice homes, nice cars, large pieces of land...those are not “bad” things. These are things that are simply neutral. They are not good, and they are not bad.
But God also doesn’t say “follow what is neutral.” What He says is to follow what is GOOD. How do we know what is GOOD? We must learn! You say, “Pastor, how do I know what is good to God?”
Why don’t you ask Him? If we do not know what is good in the eyes of God, it might take getting to know God better. And that starts with communicating with Him! Why don’t you start by praying and asking Him to show you what His good and perfect will is for your life, today?
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