Goodness . . . for Goodness Sake?

As we continue to count the days between Passover and Shavu'ot, I am reminded in preparing each of these articles that we who long to see the Gifts of the Spirit, are called to display the Fruit of the Spirit. Goodness is next in the list in Galatians.

Goodness is defined by Wordweb as: That which is pleasing, valuable or useful
Moral excellence or admirableness giving the example of use in a sentence in the following way.
"there is much goodness to be found in people"
So where is this much goodness? The news is full of everything but "much goodness."

Our society has made the defining reference through the years by the statement: "they are good people." Whose definition is this? What truly defines good? We can see debates all over our nation, each opposing side believing they are standing for what is good. They truly believe they are operating out of the "goodness" of their heart. As so often is the case, our society doesn't really have an unequivocal definition of goodness, but rather all we "good people" have determined for ourselves what "goodness" is not. Scripture has plenty to say about the heart of man, as well, and goodness was not one of the works of the flesh in regard to the human heart. I do recall adjectives, such as hard and wicked, even evil in describing the human heart, but goodness comes from G-d.

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15:8-9

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Matthew 19:16-17

Since our Creator's definition of "goodness" is a fruit of His indwelling Spirit, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say our human definition of being "good people" falls far short of His ideal.

In choosing a religion or society of life outside of G-d's Instructions, we cannot attain goodness. We cannot attain goodness in His sight without His forgiveness in Y'hshuwah Messiah and the indwelling of His spirit in our life. We cannot attain goodness in and of ourselves. The downward spiral of society of "just good people" is all the indication we need to know, we must look beyond humanity, beyond ourselves, and beyond the lip service of tolerance to find the goodness YHWH has ordained for us to experience and enjoy.