What is Good?

Psalm 53
2 God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
3 They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

From this verse, and from Jesus' conversation with the rich young ruler, there is none that do good except God alone.

So do we give up? Not exactly. The hint is in verse 2. God looks to see if any understand or if any seek after God.

So what is our first step to do good in God's eyes? Try to understand God. Okay, we can't completely grasp God, but He has given us enough tools to understand Him as much as wants us (as individuals) to. He gives us His word (the Bible) for instruction (I Tim 3:16-17) and His Holy Spirit dwells in us (I Cor 6:19) for wisdom and guidance.

The next step is intertwined with the first step: Seek after God. What better way to seek after God than to learn and do His word. To rely on His Holy Spirit to direct us through His word. And for us just to talk to Him consistently through prayer.

You may not be able to do good, on your own. But if you rely on the Holy Spirit (which is God - and He alone is good) to direct you in seeking out God through His word and prayer, you choose to emulate the goodness that can only come through a faith in Jesus Christ and a surrender to Him.