Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. (Matthew 19: 17a)

These startling words of Jesus are also wise.

Jesus is rebuking a certain rich young ruler who comes to Jesus, believing Him to be a good teacher, but who is thoroughly confused about himself, salvation, and Jesus.

The Savior recognizes that the man, eager to boast, needs a lesson in God, on sin, on the eternal life he seeks to merit, and especially on the One before him Who is far more than a good teacher.

First thing first, Jesus points the young man to heaven, reminding him of God, and that He alone is good. Yes, the man needs the lesson most Christians and churches seems to have forgotten in our day: theology 101. No one is good but One, that is God.

Second lesson: the way of “entering life” and the way, therefore, to heaven is not the way of works, but the way of the complete renunciation of self, and true faith in Jesus: Go, sell what you have…give to the poor…and come, follow me.

Third lesson, that entering life the way Jesus teaches is impossible for men. The young man, upon hearing of the way of life and salvation, went away from Jesus, sorrowful, not eager to part with his many possessions, not believing, therefore, that following Jesus would be a way to recoup his losses and the happiness he derived from his earthly treasures.

So the lesson Jesus gives to his own disciples who were astonished when they heard Jesus educate this certain man this certain way: With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. (v.26)

We need this lesson. We need this lesson when we think of all the bad in ourselves, in our society, in our day, in this day (many days!) of world wide disease, upheaval, death, panic.

The principle lesson, the first thing first: God is good. He alone is good. As such He is the fountain of good: of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), and of every blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3ff).

We are to think of this, believe this, and come to Jesus to be educated in this in the midst of all the other lessons we might be learning in our present distress.

God. God is good. God alone is good. Treasures are only good gifts. Men are not good in themselves. God is good—as the good giver, in Himself.

And He, not the government, is good in His giving and in His taking away.

In fact when God sometimes takes away is sometimes the best time to learn of His goodness, of what really matters, of life from above, of life eternal.

Time to learn of Jesus, Who, when He points us above to the only Good God, would teach us of Himself, Whom to see, by faith, is to see the Father—the Good God with us.

Time to learn of His way: to renounce all that is dear to us here below, and to follow Him.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! (Psalm 118:1)

For such a time as this.

With you in Him, confiding in the Savior and His truth and love,