The goodness of God

Today, I was planning on blogging, and I was going to take a look at and share what I have learned as I have meditated on a verse. Right before I decided to blog, I thought I would preview a curriculum DVD I recently purchased and then go after this writing. As I watched the DVD I was blown away and want to talk about something I learned instead.

So, let's jump right into it! The DVD I watched was on stewardship, and the lesson I watched was based on Matthew 25:14 - 30, also known more commonly as the Parable of the Talents. This parable is one on work and working for God.

In the passage, we learn about 3 workers who are given a sum of money by a nobleman, or their master, who was leaving for a period of time. The nobleman ordered the servants to invest the money for him as however they saw fit, but to do something. Two of the servants were faithful in investing their money. The nobleman, after discovering what they had done with the talents told these two men to "enter into the joy of your master." (verses 21 & 23) The third worker, however, did not do anything with what he was given.

The response the third worker gives goes like this, "Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours." (verses 24 - 25)

As I was watching the DVD, they pointed out the obvious things in the parable, such as God is the nobleman, or master, and we are the workers. They also pointed out that God equips us all with certain attributes and things to control. We are to work for God and bring Him glory - things most people hit on when they hear this passage preached. But they made one astute observation, and it dealt with how the third worker responded to the master. When the servant answered the master, the DVD stated that this worker did not trust in the goodness of God and therefore, was complacent with what God gave him. WOAH!

Think about that - this man did not trust in the goodness of God. The whole of the Gospel revolves around the belief that we think of God as good and working for our good. The Bible is full of this truth, and for many, this is not what they believe. And many of these people are ones who claim Christ as their Savior.

The Bible calls ALL Christians to action - not complacency. God calls us to be good stewards, which means we must work. And in our work we need to rely on God's goodness.

I thought more on this, and looked around at many people I see in church who see it as a piece of their life, and not interconnected. Are people missing that God is good? I think this might be a bigger problem than I completely realize and I think there might be an immense amount of truth to this thought.

Even in my own life, I look at the things I struggle with. Am I seeing that God is working this for good in my life? Do I believe God to be good and that when I work for Him that I will be blessed because of my investment? Do I trust in His goodness?

We who do trust in God's goodness can spout it out for as long as we have breath, but God's goodness cannot be captured in our words; it must be experienced. We must challenge our congregants to seek out God's goodness in their lives. We also must be calling on God to display His goodness to them, and partly, through our lives.

I also think about my life right now. I will use this as an example, even though I think I might have beaten it a little bit to an extreme. Still...I currently am in a relationship and it is fantastic! And this is SO exciting for me! I was single for many years and I always wondered when it would happen. I trusted God to do what He wanted to do, and now I am getting to experience something better than I could have ever imagined.

The same is true with a friend of mine. She has been single for a little while and has been waiting to find someone, and now someone is entering into her life and it is very exciting! She has trusted God to do what He wants and she is getting to experience something wonderful too! We are blessed!

I know those words can be hard to hear - especially if you have wanted a relationship for a long time. God does work for good for those who trust Him and wait on Him. And He wants us to be faithful.

This parable also ties into our faith. It's all about our faith. And our faith is tied to our work. Our faith is about a man named Jesus, who was completely God, and He entered into humanity to show us the Father's heart. Our faith rests on Him dying on a cross for our sins and rising to life again to give us new life. Our faith completely lies on what He accomplished. And that new life is what we get to have now!

Turn to God now, and if you haven't trusted in His goodness for your life, ask Him to show you it. Ask Him to reveal to you who He really is and all that He is about in a profound way. I bet He will answer in a more amazing way than you could believe! Trust in Him, I speak with my life that He will never turn on you.

God you've been so good to us. I pray that you would use these words to show others how wonderful you are! God would you work in a profound way to show all your children that you are good? Remove their fears that tell them differently. God be so evident. You are good to me Lord and you have shown me your goodness. Thank you Father. I know that you are for me! =D Lead me in the way everlasting. I love you Lord. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

Brandon