Not My Goodness, But God's
We were recently discussing the movie The Sound of Music, a family favorite growing up. I instantly recalled the song Something Good, a duet by Maria and Captain Von Trapp as their love story unfolds — not one of the more popular songs from the movie, I’ll admit.
The chorus goes like this:
Nothing comes from nothing,
Nothing ever could.
So, somewhere in my youth or childhood
I must have done something good.
I chuckled when I remembered my dad saying, “That’s bad theology.” At the time, I didn’t realize how important this distinction was.
I can’t conjure up goodness in my life.
I can’t name it and claim it.
I can’t check all the boxes and earn a pain-free existence.
Yes, I can (and should) grow in my knowledge of God, walk in obedience, and follow Him for a life of humility, love, and service.
All the gifts in my life are because of God’s goodness, not my own. He is the gift-giver, goodness is at the core of who God is.
Pain and heartache in my life do not negate God’s goodness. In fact, hardships expose God’s goodness when ease would’ve otherwise obscured it. Further, God gives common grace to all people, His children or not, by restraining evil and offering His goodness and good gifts.
So instead of “I must’ve done something good,” we can attribute life’s gifts to the goodness of God. The greatest gift is redemption through His Son, Jesus, reconciling us to God through His life, death, and resurrection. Everything else, from sunsets to laughter around the dinner table, is an overflow of God’s steadfast love for His creation.
I’m thankful that life’s good gifts aren’t dependent on my faithfulness, but God’s. It’s true “nothing comes from nothing,” but good things come from our loving Father.
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