How to achieve the G.R.E.A.T.E.R. good

Phillip Foster March 7, 2020

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“What is the good life?”

This question has fascinated philosophers, theologians, psychologists, and consumer scientists for centuries.  For the Greeks, the question had to do with, “What makes life worth living?”  Historically, the answer has been to indulge in whatever pleasure was available or to be successful, wealthy, famous or powerful.

How would you answer?

Paul rebuked the Corinthians for pursuing what was good for themselves without considering the greater good (1 Corinthians 3:1-9; 5:1-2; 6:1-8; 6:12; 8:1-13). The greater good has to do with the good we do for others and the good we do for the kingdom.

Achieving the greater good requires preparation on our parts to be able to discern and do what is required.  Here are seven things we can do to achieve the G.R.E.A.T.E.R. good.

G—Gratitude is how we prepare our attitudes.

“Give thanks in all circumstances” (I Thessalonians 5:18).

“Give thanks” is stated 62 times in the Bible.

Research has found expressing gratitude makes others more likely to want to continue in a relationship with you (evangelism?). Gratitude makes it easier to handle negative feedback, to appreciate other’s accomplishments and want more to do good to others.

R—Reading is how we prepare our minds

Reading Scripture gives understanding to the simple (Psalms 119:30), enables us to fight spiritual battles (Ephesians 6:17) and provides instructions to live by (Romans 15:4).

Read using the Lectio Divina method, especially if you tend to read thinking about your next sermon or lesson, etc.

Read the classics, the scholars of the day, whatever inspires or encourages.

E—Examen is how we prepare our hearts

We need to allow God to examine our hearts and teach us how we should live. When David wrote, “Search me, O God, and know my heart” (Psalms 139:23-24), he was trusting God to bring to light the things unknown.

The Prayer of Examen is a way of looking at each day through God’s eyes to discern what He is doing and what He would have us to be doing.

A—Affirm is how we prepare our wills

Daily, we need to affirm, “to state as a fact,” what we know to be true, what we know about God, His Son and the Spirit that dwells within us.

We also need to affirm what is true about ourselves, about our identity in Christ (1 Peter 2:9).

T—Trust is how we prepare our faith

Elisabeth Elliot wrote, “To experience the glory of God’s will for us means absolute trust.  It means the will to do his will, and it means joy.”

We need to trust God’s promises are true. “My word…shall not return to me empty without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it” (Is. 55:11). 

We need to trust that He goes before us, will be with us, and will never leave us (Deuteronomy 31:8).

“Can you imagine the love God has for a child He has carried so long in the womb of His eternal purpose? If God delighted in His plan before He spoke the world into being, how much greater is His delight to witness the full fruition of His labor—a believing soul”  (William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armor).

E—Execute means we prepare to act

Jesus said, “You were made for good works.” We need to trust that God has a good work for us to do, and discern what that may be (Psalms 37:3).

Paul wrote, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone (Gal. 6:10).”

R—Rest to prepare for another day

Following a very difficult period of ministry, Jesus told His disciples, “Come away by yourselves and rest a while” (Mark 6:30).

Pete Scazzarro wrote, “The emotionally unhealthy leader is someone who operates in a continuous state of emotional and spiritual deficit, lacking emotional maturity and a ‘being with God’ sufficient to sustain their ‘doing for God’” (Emotionally Healthy Leader).

If we desire to continually achieve the G.R.E.A.T.E.R good, we need to find a way to rest and be with God. The kingdom depends on it and so do we.

Photo source: istock 

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Phillip A. Foster, Ph.D., as a psychologist and Director of AuthenticQuest.org, provides spiritual direction, counseling, training and consulting, to those in ministry or other roles of leadership in the church. He is the author of Here's My Heart, Lord; Parent With an Attitude, and Not Good Enough. Learn More »

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