GOODNESS
The word “goodness” comes from the Greek word, “agathosune” which describes active goodness, virtue, excellence or beneficence. It is high moral character reflected in to being good in both nature and effectiveness.
“Agathosune” finds in its fullest and highest expression in that which is willingly and sacrificially done for others. It is moral and spiritual excellence manifested in active kindness. It describes a positive moral quality characterized especially by interest in the welfare of others. It also refers to active goodness as an energetic principle. It is the generosity which springs from the heart that is kind and will always take care to obtain for others that which is useful or beneficial.
C NORMAN BARTLETT writes that the real meaning of this word is generosity in things material and things spiritual. Niggardliness impoverished while liberality enriched the soul; or as Scripture puts it, “The liberal soul shall be made fat.” In the realm of the spirit we lose what we keep and keep what we lose for Jesus’ sake.
(Matthew 16:25)
WILLIAM BARCLAY writes that “agathosune” is peculiarly Bible word and does not occur in secular Greek. It is the widest word for goodness; it is defined as virtue equipped at every point. What is the difference? “Agathosune” might, and could, rebuke and discipline’ “cherstotes”, kindness, can only help. Trench says that Jesus shoed “agathosune” when He cleansed the Temple and drove out those who were making it a bazaar, but He showed “chrestotes” when He was kind to the sinning woman who anointed His feet. The Christian needs that goodness
Which at one and the same time can be kind and strong.
RAY STEDMAN says that God’s goodness is the answer to the question: Is this a friendly universe? The answer is yea; when we come to the end of our thinking we find that behind the vastness of this universe stands a God who cares about what He has made. He is not indifferent or undecided or absent, but He is fully involved for the good of the universe because He Himself is a good God.
EDWARD CARNELL in his book “Christian Commitment rightly reminds us that God never urges Himself to be good, because He is good.
JOHN PIPER commenting on Carnell’s declaration that His nature always inclines irresistibly toward righteousness. God is never torn by evil motives. God is light and in Him is not darkness at all. So He does not need to be reminded about the duty of His deity. No one needs to say, “Now today, God, mind your manners, do what’s right, avoid evil, and remember the Ten Commandments.
EASTON’S BIBLE DICTIONARY on the Goodness of God:
A perfection of His character which He exercises towards His creatures according to their various circumstances; as exercised, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favor on the unworthy it is grace.
When was the last time you paused to ponder the goodness of God?
Would you consider taking a moment today from your busy schedule, finding a quiet place, turning off your cell phone, and choosing to purposefully set your mind on the things above rather than the things of this earth, which is passing away, and even its lusts?
Investments
I have a friend who is a rich investor. He doesn’t wear thousand dollar suits, however. I have never seen him in anything but old, work shirts and blue jeans. He doesn’t drive an expensive car either. I doubt if he has ever even owned a new car. He doesn’t live in some fancy mansion on a hill. His house is old and his furniture is worn, but that doesn’t bother him at all. You see my friend is an investor in goodness. He doesn’t earn any money from it, but the dividends he receives make him one of the richest men I know.I remember the hug he got once when he helped an elderly lady jump start her car. It was priceless. I remember the smile he got from a young boy after he fixed the boy’s bicycle. It was worth a fortune. I remember the warm thanks he got when he helped a poor family repair their home before Winter arrived. It was a treasure beyond compare. My friend never hoards the wealth he gets back from his "good" investments, either. He just keeps reinvesting them in his community and in this world everyday of his life.One of the greatest things about my friend’s investments too is that we all can make them. I intend to make as many of them as I can every chance that I get. There is no risk involved either. Henry David Thoreau said, "Goodness is the only investment that never fails." Invest in some goodness today then. Help a neighbor. Share some laughter with your friends. Give a smile to everyone you meet. Take your wealth of love, joy, and oneness with God and invest it in everything you do. I guarantee you that the return on your investments will be incredible and your compound interest will be out of this world. You might even become a goodness billionaire like my friend. He knows as well as anyone what the true riches of this world and the next world really are.
Saturday, June 05, 2010
KINDNESS
Kindness is the Greek word “chrestotes” which means a gracious attitude, and thus describes the quality of being helpful and beneficial.
Kindness is an attribute of God and a godly trait which the Spirit produces in the surrendered saint. This is in contrast to the unregenerate sinner who shows no kindness.
In Colossians 3:12 Paul writes to the Colossian saints regarding their new “Christ-like” garment, commanding them as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Let’s see what others have to say about “kindness.”
JOHN EADIE writes that the meaning of “chresotes” is kindness, gentleness, affability, the benign heart and the soft answer, “the gentleness of Christ,” or a serene, loving, and sympathizing temper, the fruit of that Spirit who descended in the form of a dove upon our great Exemplar, and abode upon Him.
ALBERT BARNES writes that “chrestotes” is opposed to a harsh, crabbed, crooked temper. It is a disposition to be pleased; it is mildness of temper, calmness of spirit, an unruffled disposition, and a disposition to treat all with urbanity and politeness. This one of the regular effects of the Spirit’s operations on the heart. The Holy Spirit makes no one crabbed, and morose, and sour. He sweetens the temper, corrects an irritable disposition; make the heart kind; disposes us to make all around us as happy as possible. This is true politeness; a kind of politeness which can far better be learned in the school of Christ
JESUS taught that we are to love our enemies, and do good and lend, expecting nothing in return and our reward will be great, and we will sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. (Luke 6:35)
JOHN MACARTHUR writes that kindness, “chrestotes” connotes genuine goodness and generosity of heart. Our salvation from sin and lostness and death issued wholly from God’s kindness. His loving, benevolent, and entirely gracious concern to draw us to Himself and redeem us from sin forever.
MacArthur adds that strangely, most people do not perceive God as being totally good. Instead of recognizing His gracious provision, patience, and His mercy, they accuse Him of being insensitive and unloving for letting certain thins happen.
“How could God allow that little child to die?” they ask, or “Why does God allow that good person to suffer pain and poor health and permit a scoundrel to enjoy health and wealth?
Such people judge God from an incomplete and distorted human perspective, failing to acknowledge that if it were not for God’s gracious goodness and patience, no human being would be alive. It is only His grace that allows any person to take another breath.
JAMES MONTGOMERTY BOICE adds that kindness is the divine kindness out of which God acts toward me. It is what the Old Testament means when it declares that “God is good,” as it so frequently does. The Christian is to show kindness by behaving toward others as God has behaved toward them.
C NORMAN BARLETT says that kindness, gentleness, is the spontaneous overflow of love in the heart. It is the spirit that would rather be hurt by others than hurt others. Would that more of us were as tenderhearted as we are thin-skinned, as impulsive in kindness as explosive in anger. We need to cultivate resourcefulness in kindliness, to gain proficiency in the artistry of applying Christian love to the hearts and lives of those with when we come in contact in the multitudinous activities and relationships of live.
THE TYNDALE BIBLE DICTIONARY summarizes kindness as that state of being that includes the attributes of loving affection, sympathy, friendliness, patience, pleasantness, gentleness, and goodness. Kindness is a quality shown in the way a person speaks and acts. It is more volitional than emotional.
LEON MORRIS adds that the basic thought of kindness, “chrestotes,” is that of goodness. But it is the goodness that is goodness of heart, not what which is austerely correct. The translation “kindness” brings out this benevolent aspect, but we should not be unmindful of the fact that goodness is also involved. Paul is thinking of God’s goodness, which is seen in the kindness He shows to His people.
CHARLES SPURGEON describes the spiritual aspect of the kindness of God:
Myriads of our fellow men have never had an opportunity of knowing Christ. The missionary’s foot has never trodden the cities wherein they dwell, and so they die in the dark. Multitudes are going downward, downward, but they do not know the upward road; their minds have never been enlightened by the teachings of God’s Word, and hence they sin with less grievousness of fault. You are placed I the very focus of Christian life, and yet you follow evil! Will you not think of this? Time was when a man would have to work for years to earn enough money to buy a Bible. There were times when he could not have earned one even with that toil; now the Word of God lies upon your table, you have a copy of it in almost every room of your house; is not this a boon from God? This is the land of the open Bible, and the land of the preached Word of God; in this your prove the riches of God’s goodness. Do you despise this wealth of mercy? Possibly you have enjoyed the further privilege of sitting under a ministry which has been particularly plain and earnest; you have not had sermons tugged at your conscience, as though he would force you to the Savior. With cries of entreaties you have been invited to your heavenly Father, and yet you have not come. Is this a small thing?
WILLIAM NEWELL writes that we should not the degrees or stages of God’s kindness. First, it is God’s “goodness,” in daily preserving us, providing for us, and protecting us. Second, divine goodness being despised, God’s “forbearance” is exercised. God does not smite instantly the proud ingrate, but goes on in goodness toward him, withholding wrath even at time when disease, danger, or death threaten all about us. Third, all God’s goodness and forbearance being despised, God’s “long-suffering” keeps waiting, even over vessel of wrath.
One of the most beautiful illustrations of this volitional aspect of human kindness is King David’s treatment of Mephibosheth. Scripture records in 2 Samuel 9:ff David’s question, “Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
David’s desire was to show “the kindness of God” to King Saul’s family because of his covenant with Saul’s son, Jonathan. The young man chosen was Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, who “was lame in both feet.”
If David had acted according to justice, he would have condemned Mephibosheth who belonged to a condemned family. But David acted on the basis of kindness, seeking out Methiposheth, assuring him he had no need to fear, inviting him to live in the king’s palace as family and to eat at the king’s table. This is but a veiled picture of the infinite kindness of God!
Indeed, every believer has experienced even greater kindness, for we are now children of the King and shall revel in His majestic presence forever!
What kindness!
Sometimes men are awakened out of mere creatural existence through the breath of kindness. Henry M. Stanley's early life is a story that moves the hardest heart. Never knowing his father, disowned by his mother, in the Asaph workhouse surrounded by misery and cruelty, he used to hear the lesson read from John 4:4, 7: "Little children, . . . love one another," and wondered what it meant. His childish heart was ready and yearning for love, but none gave love to him; and he began to think the sweetest parts of the Bible were wholly inapplicable to actual life. He had come, even at early years, to disbelieve in love.
Then one day the fugitive boy who had run away from the ship at New Orleans stood in front of a kind, grave gentleman who had taken him into his store and then into his home. The man took a basin of water, made the sign of the cross on his brow, gave him his own name, Henry M. Stanley, and then took him in his arms and kissed him. His senses whirled about him, and tears, which no amount of cruelty could ever have forced from him, poured in a torrent under the influence of that simple embrace. "The golden period of my life began from that supreme moment."
Kindness is the Greek word “chrestotes” which means a gracious attitude, and thus describes the quality of being helpful and beneficial.
Kindness is an attribute of God and a godly trait which the Spirit produces in the surrendered saint. This is in contrast to the unregenerate sinner who shows no kindness.
In Colossians 3:12 Paul writes to the Colossian saints regarding their new “Christ-like” garment, commanding them as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Let’s see what others have to say about “kindness.”
JOHN EADIE writes that the meaning of “chresotes” is kindness, gentleness, affability, the benign heart and the soft answer, “the gentleness of Christ,” or a serene, loving, and sympathizing temper, the fruit of that Spirit who descended in the form of a dove upon our great Exemplar, and abode upon Him.
ALBERT BARNES writes that “chrestotes” is opposed to a harsh, crabbed, crooked temper. It is a disposition to be pleased; it is mildness of temper, calmness of spirit, an unruffled disposition, and a disposition to treat all with urbanity and politeness. This one of the regular effects of the Spirit’s operations on the heart. The Holy Spirit makes no one crabbed, and morose, and sour. He sweetens the temper, corrects an irritable disposition; make the heart kind; disposes us to make all around us as happy as possible. This is true politeness; a kind of politeness which can far better be learned in the school of Christ
JESUS taught that we are to love our enemies, and do good and lend, expecting nothing in return and our reward will be great, and we will sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. (Luke 6:35)
JOHN MACARTHUR writes that kindness, “chrestotes” connotes genuine goodness and generosity of heart. Our salvation from sin and lostness and death issued wholly from God’s kindness. His loving, benevolent, and entirely gracious concern to draw us to Himself and redeem us from sin forever.
MacArthur adds that strangely, most people do not perceive God as being totally good. Instead of recognizing His gracious provision, patience, and His mercy, they accuse Him of being insensitive and unloving for letting certain thins happen.
“How could God allow that little child to die?” they ask, or “Why does God allow that good person to suffer pain and poor health and permit a scoundrel to enjoy health and wealth?
Such people judge God from an incomplete and distorted human perspective, failing to acknowledge that if it were not for God’s gracious goodness and patience, no human being would be alive. It is only His grace that allows any person to take another breath.
JAMES MONTGOMERTY BOICE adds that kindness is the divine kindness out of which God acts toward me. It is what the Old Testament means when it declares that “God is good,” as it so frequently does. The Christian is to show kindness by behaving toward others as God has behaved toward them.
C NORMAN BARLETT says that kindness, gentleness, is the spontaneous overflow of love in the heart. It is the spirit that would rather be hurt by others than hurt others. Would that more of us were as tenderhearted as we are thin-skinned, as impulsive in kindness as explosive in anger. We need to cultivate resourcefulness in kindliness, to gain proficiency in the artistry of applying Christian love to the hearts and lives of those with when we come in contact in the multitudinous activities and relationships of live.
THE TYNDALE BIBLE DICTIONARY summarizes kindness as that state of being that includes the attributes of loving affection, sympathy, friendliness, patience, pleasantness, gentleness, and goodness. Kindness is a quality shown in the way a person speaks and acts. It is more volitional than emotional.
LEON MORRIS adds that the basic thought of kindness, “chrestotes,” is that of goodness. But it is the goodness that is goodness of heart, not what which is austerely correct. The translation “kindness” brings out this benevolent aspect, but we should not be unmindful of the fact that goodness is also involved. Paul is thinking of God’s goodness, which is seen in the kindness He shows to His people.
CHARLES SPURGEON describes the spiritual aspect of the kindness of God:
Myriads of our fellow men have never had an opportunity of knowing Christ. The missionary’s foot has never trodden the cities wherein they dwell, and so they die in the dark. Multitudes are going downward, downward, but they do not know the upward road; their minds have never been enlightened by the teachings of God’s Word, and hence they sin with less grievousness of fault. You are placed I the very focus of Christian life, and yet you follow evil! Will you not think of this? Time was when a man would have to work for years to earn enough money to buy a Bible. There were times when he could not have earned one even with that toil; now the Word of God lies upon your table, you have a copy of it in almost every room of your house; is not this a boon from God? This is the land of the open Bible, and the land of the preached Word of God; in this your prove the riches of God’s goodness. Do you despise this wealth of mercy? Possibly you have enjoyed the further privilege of sitting under a ministry which has been particularly plain and earnest; you have not had sermons tugged at your conscience, as though he would force you to the Savior. With cries of entreaties you have been invited to your heavenly Father, and yet you have not come. Is this a small thing?
WILLIAM NEWELL writes that we should not the degrees or stages of God’s kindness. First, it is God’s “goodness,” in daily preserving us, providing for us, and protecting us. Second, divine goodness being despised, God’s “forbearance” is exercised. God does not smite instantly the proud ingrate, but goes on in goodness toward him, withholding wrath even at time when disease, danger, or death threaten all about us. Third, all God’s goodness and forbearance being despised, God’s “long-suffering” keeps waiting, even over vessel of wrath.
One of the most beautiful illustrations of this volitional aspect of human kindness is King David’s treatment of Mephibosheth. Scripture records in 2 Samuel 9:ff David’s question, “Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
David’s desire was to show “the kindness of God” to King Saul’s family because of his covenant with Saul’s son, Jonathan. The young man chosen was Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, who “was lame in both feet.”
If David had acted according to justice, he would have condemned Mephibosheth who belonged to a condemned family. But David acted on the basis of kindness, seeking out Methiposheth, assuring him he had no need to fear, inviting him to live in the king’s palace as family and to eat at the king’s table. This is but a veiled picture of the infinite kindness of God!
Indeed, every believer has experienced even greater kindness, for we are now children of the King and shall revel in His majestic presence forever!
What kindness!
Sometimes men are awakened out of mere creatural existence through the breath of kindness. Henry M. Stanley's early life is a story that moves the hardest heart. Never knowing his father, disowned by his mother, in the Asaph workhouse surrounded by misery and cruelty, he used to hear the lesson read from John 4:4, 7: "Little children, . . . love one another," and wondered what it meant. His childish heart was ready and yearning for love, but none gave love to him; and he began to think the sweetest parts of the Bible were wholly inapplicable to actual life. He had come, even at early years, to disbelieve in love.
Then one day the fugitive boy who had run away from the ship at New Orleans stood in front of a kind, grave gentleman who had taken him into his store and then into his home. The man took a basin of water, made the sign of the cross on his brow, gave him his own name, Henry M. Stanley, and then took him in his arms and kissed him. His senses whirled about him, and tears, which no amount of cruelty could ever have forced from him, poured in a torrent under the influence of that simple embrace. "The golden period of my life began from that supreme moment."
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