Seeking the Good of Others

“Older women, teach the younger women to be good” (Titus 2:5). So far we’ve looked at the goodness of God, the goodness of internal character, the good works that should flow out of good character, and the goodness Christ calls us to display in suffering. As an extension of all of those, let’s consider an example from David’s life. My thoughts were led in that direction from Psalm 122, one of the “Songs of Ascent,” which I was memorizing last month. We are told specifically that this particular psalm is written by David. In the last verse, he says, “Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good” (Psalm 122:9, NKJV). This verse led me to meditate on what it means to seek someone’s good.

David himself gives us an example of this in I Samuel 24. Out of jealousy, an unrepentant heart, and fear of losing his kingly dynasty, Saul has been actively pursuing David to kill him for quite some time. In his pursuit, Saul goes into a cave to relieve himself, not knowing that David and his men are hiding in that very cave. David’s men see this as a God-given opportunity. Quoting a word from the Lord about God’s deliverance from his enemies, they urge him to rise up and kill Saul. Instead, David simply sneaks up and cuts off a corner of Saul’s robe as proof that he could have killed him, and that the Lord had delivered Saul into David’s hand rather than the other way around. In I Samuel 24:5, we are told that even that act of cutting off a piece of Saul’s robe troubled David’s heart, and he forbade his men from killing Saul, the anointed of the Lord.

David then does a very risky thing. He presents himself to King Saul, bowing to the ground, defenseless. He tells Saul of the whole scenario in the cave, how his men urged David to kill him. Then he shows the piece of cloth from Saul’s robe to prove how close and vulnerable Saul was, yet David restrained himself and his men. Saul breaks down in tears and says, “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day” (I Samuel 24:17-19).

What David did to Saul that day was not normal, not natural. Saul is very aware of that. A normal response is revenge, to pay back to others what they do to us, and to rid ourselves of our enemies. David did the opposite out of the fear of the Lord, and it turned Saul away from pursuing him—for a time. But later Saul sought to kill David again. Once again, the Lord gave David an opportunity to kill Saul. Abishai, one of David’s men, once again urged David to let him kill Saul, saying, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day.” From Abishai’s perspective, it seemed the perfect God-ordained circumstance. But David again restrained him. This time when Saul realized that David had again chosen to show kindness rather than revenge, Saul turned back and did not pursue him again (I Samuel 26).

When given the opportunity to harm, David instead repaid evil with good. This is what we as followers of Christ are called to do. Romans 12:12:17-21 says this:

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing, you will heap coals of fire on his head” (a quote from Proverbs 25:21-22). Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

David modeled this exhortation from the New Testament. The motivation and ability to repay evil with good is rooted in the justice and vengeance of God. He is the just judge of all the earth (Genesis 18:25, Psalm 7:8-11—another psalm of David). When Jesus was treated unjustly and so cruelly, I Peter 2:23 tells us that “when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.” In I Peter 4:19, we are told to do the same, following His example, “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

As quoted in the previous blog on good works and suffering, Jesus explained that it takes little to no effort to show kindness to those who show kindness to us. That is wholly natural. No need for the life of God in us to do that. But to love those who hate us, to do good to those who wrong us and despise us, to bless those who curse us, and to pray for those who persecute us, that is supernatural. That reveals the true heart of God, even for those who do evil (Matthew 5:43-48). Only the life of God flowing through us can enable us to do that. This is what God has done for each one of us: “God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

It is this God-generated goodness that overcomes evil. II Corinthians 10:4 says the “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” As seen in David’s life, goodness is a more powerful weapon than the sword for overcoming evil. Oh, that we would fully grasp that truth!

Going back to the verse where we began, Psalm 122:9, the foundational impetus (the driving force, impulse, or energy that moves us—Oxford and Merriam-Webster dictionaries) for seeking the good of others is grounded in a desire to bring honor and glory to God’s name and reputation: “Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.” Seek the good of others. Seek to bless them. Seek ways to do good to them. It will reveal to them the glorious largess (liberal generosity) of the heart of God. Whether friends or foes, in what ways are you seeking the good of those around you? Pray for goodness to flow out of your life. Take up the uncommon, paradoxical (seemingly absurd or self-contradictory) weapon of goodness. Let us pray together that goodness will become the natural response of our hearts, even in the face of evil, as we become more conformed to the image of Christ.