Believers adorn our profession by walking in the light of Christ’s Word. We act in faith (Hebrews 11:6). We obey from the heart (Romans 6:17). We commit ourselves to the Scriptures, “a lamp to [our] feet” (Psalm 119:105). We aim for the glory of God, which will always prove to be for the good of His people (2 Corinthians 8:19).

One of the most popular platitudes of our day is “Follow your heart.” The assumption here is that man’s heart is basically good and will choose good things. In fact, that “good” is entirely oriented to the satisfaction of the individual’s desires.

A barrage of questions confront those with this mindset, however. Is my happiness the standard for goodness? Can good be determined by each individual? What if the pursuit of “your good” crushes my dreams? Further, am I even capable of goodness? What role does faith play in the pursuit of good works? What about motives? And what is the ultimate aim for which all people were created? The Bible has clear answers to these distorted cultural thoughts.

Man exists not for his own praise but for the praise of the Lord. While people may herald our good works, the eye that ought to concern us is the Lord’s. He searches the heart, and all things are to be “to him” (Rom. 11:36). So when anyone trumpets some self-declared good thing before men, or other people lay flowers at his feet, dedicate buildings to him, or name streets after him, such a one, as Jesus puts it, has received his reward (Matt. 6:2, 5). Perhaps the thing that he has done is what God requires, but was it done unto the God who sees in secret? The Lord does not reward the good works done for man’s praise. He rewards righteousness rendered to Him (v. 1).

But though it is possible that sinful man may do something God requires, what is good is not devised by man (Isa. 29:13). Sinners have a perpetual problem of pursuing the good in their own eyes. The things that are good, however, are only the things that God declares to be good (Mic. 6:8). If we would know what a good work is, we must not be conformed to this world’s ideas (Rom. 12:2). We test and approve our thoughts by the will of God. When Eve made a self-centered evaluation of “the good” in defiance of God’s command, it was a disaster (Gen. 3:6). She looked at the forbidden tree as good for food, as though eating it would be a good work. But her actions to take and eat became instruments of death. And as a result of the fall, man is truly in a precarious position. Paul states it this way, quoting Psalms 14:3 and 53:3: “No one does good, not even one” (Rom. 3:12).

Fierce objections fly in view of that three-fold scriptural statement. What about the celebrities who give to charitable causes? What about political leaders who, while rejecting Christianity, contend for laws that protect life? What about atheists who nevertheless argue for principles of decency in society? Richard Dawkins, the prominent author of The God Delusion, contended for the goodness of cultural Christianity, a societal idea that appreciates freedoms and care for humanity, among other things. Are these not signs of a basic goodness?

A better description would be to call these yearnings for civic righteousness or help to man a display of common grace. God, in His kindness, has not allowed every vestige of His image in fallen man to be destroyed. Man is not as bad as he possibly could be. In fact, Paul will speak of how he is able to rejoice that while men preach Christ with rotten motives, it is still the gospel that they preach (Phil. 1:15–18). Therefore, while these men are dominated by selfish ambition and desire to cause Paul distress, they yet declare the riches of Christ. In light of that fact, Paul rejoices and will keep on rejoicing.

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