Diligently Seeking Good

"Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it" (Prov. 11:27, ESV).

The little verse reminds us that our task as God's people is to diligently seek him. To seek good is to seek God. The pursuit of good is more than the pursuit of morality. It is the pursuit of that which pleases God, because it reflects his character. Those who pursue "good," or what we might call righteousness or holiness, seek God himself. It is impossible for us to find good apart from God.

Solomon warns his listener that evil is easily found. It waits like a snake coiled in the grass or a cat ready to pounce. One does not have to be diligent to find it. Even a causal search will yield more than enough trouble.

But goodness must be searched for with diligence. God desires the whole person: mind, heart, soul and strength. The gospel makes heavy demands upon those who believe its message. It calls for them to bear the cross, deny themselves, and to follow after Christ. The gospel calls us to repent of our sin and to cling to Christ, in faith, as our sole righteousness. It also calls for us to persevere in repentance and faith.

Diligence should mark a Christian's life. They should be known as people who press hard toward goodness, and who reflect that goodness in their dealings with others. We should be diligent in all we do, but we should be especially diligent in our pursuit of good. When we understand that pursuing good is pursuing God, it can help us to be diligent. The God who saves us is the God who places within us the desire to pursue him. He promises to reveal himself to us if we will search for him with diligence.