What is Good?

In college we had a discussion once about what really is "good"?

We like to think that whatever makes us happy is good.

But is it?

Not necessarily.  Think of all the things that bring happiness but then later bring pain.

On the flip side, you could also think of all the things that brought sadness but later brought joy, in that they resulted in us having a more mature character.

Sometimes what is hard is what is best for us.

If everything was always easy, would we ever learn anything?  No.

Learning comes by doing, learning comes by suffering, learning comes by self-sacrifice.

Hebrews 12 says, "God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

Fasting is in itself not joyous.  However, it increases my appreciation of food after the fast.  It makes me more humble.  And it reminds me that it is not all about me.  It teaches me how to deny myself, which is Jesus' calling to all of us. 

The first day of fasting is always the hardest, because I have heard the body is riding itself of toxins.  This will then lead to better health. 

Exercise is usually not fun.  However, we reap the benefits of good health as a result of exercising. 

Learning how to manage our time in school is not fun at first.  We have to discipline ourselves to stay on task to get assignment done.  But the result is that we grow in wisdom as we learn. 

Learning how to budget money is not fun at first.  It can feel restrictive.  However, we later are glad that we budgeted, because we then avoid overdraft fees or having to go without a necessity because we spent money needlessly. 

Trials and suffering are not fun.  In hindsight though we may be able to see the reason why God lets us go through trials.  They make us stronger.  They increase our faith in ourselves that we can endure hard times.  They help us to remember to rely on God. 

1 Peter 1 says, "These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

What is "good" is what benefits us regarding our soul.  Sometimes God has to make us unhappy in order make us more holy. 

Remember that the next time you think you are having a bad day.  Ask God what he is trying to teach you in that hard day. :)  God bless!