Psalm 37:23-24, Mark 10:18, Ephesians 2:10, Psalm 86:11

Glyn Barrett

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
Psalm 37:23-24

The Bible clearly states in this passage that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. The only problem is, how do you know whether you are a good man?

Who qualifies as a good man? At best 'good' is subjective. It may describe me in the best moments of a few of my finest days in any one year, but generally, I'm not sure that even I myself could rightly include myself as a 'good man'. It was, of course, Jesus himself who said of people that called him good, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good - except God alone. (Mark 10:18)

At first glance, it appears that the Old and New Testament contradict each other. The Psalmist saying that 'good men's step are ordered by the Lord'; whereas Jesus himself doesn't even place 'good' as a human characteristic.

However, for us to fully understand this tension, we must first consider the very nature of God. God's character has attributes that He and He alone can possess; we call these incommunicable attributes. He also has attributes that in His grace He allows us to carry; we call these communicable attributes.

Incommunicable Attributes

God is Omnipotent - God is all powerful. There is nothing that He cannot intervene with in your life.

God is Omniscient - all knowing. There is nothing beyond Gods knowledge, he knows beginning to end and everyone in between. He knows your past, knows where you're at right now, and sees your future; way bigger and beyond all you could possibly ask or imagine.

God is Omnipresent - all places at all times. God does not reside in one continent at one time, He is not limited by physicality, but is with every person, all of the time. Wherever you go and whatever you do, God is right with you, by your side.

Go is Immutable - never changing. The Bible tells us that he does not change, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Therefore what He did yesteryear, he is able to do today, and will continue to do in the future.

God is Self-existing and self sufficient - he needs nothing. He is the source of all things.

Communicable Attributes

As you can see, 'good', is not a characteristic that God holds Himself. Rather He chooses to allow us to carry it. It is a communicable attribute.

God is, and also allows us to carry; Love, Grace, Mercy, Justice, Patience, Kindness, and Goodness.

It is important to note that the 'goodness of man' is not dependant upon our ability to be 'good', but hinges on the truth that God is 'good' and 'great'.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us that, 'we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works'. We are on the planet to reflect the goodness of God. We are good, simply because God has chosen to work through us.

The 'good man' that Psalm 37 talks of, is not someone who has everything together, is perfect in all their thoughts, words and actions, but it is simply a person who has chosen to commit themselves to God and His ways, that God would show His goodness through them.

In this season commit to pursuing God and commit your thoughts, words and lifestyle to His ways.

Psalm 86:11 says, 'Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name'.

See what God will do as you pursue Him. He has all the days of this year written, He will not let you fall. Place your trust in Him, and commit to the step He has asked you to take.