"Summon bonum" is Latin for "the highest good" or "the supreme good." What is the highest good? There are many good things that we enjoy in our lives. I enjoy good food, a good book, a good friend. But, is that the highest good? I know many good people who do good things. There are many good things that we could do. But, what is the highest good?
Jesus said, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul (Mk. 8:36)." By way of contrast, Jesus is saying that to pursue the things of this world and to make these our priority could be very costly. I know many, and I am sure so do you, that have wasted their lives on the pursuit of wealth, status, position, or reputation. But, we are admonished not to become attached to the "things of this world (I John 2:15-16)." Though God is not against personal wealth or any of these other things, these should not be our goals. Paul was able to say that he had learned to be content with plenty and want (Phil. 4:12). When we fail to be content with what is from the Lord, we miss out on what His plan is for our lives. Are we willing to spend our whole lives pursuing what others have referred to as the "good life," if that means that we miss out on the blessings of seeing God working through us and accomplishing His purpose? Are we willing to make these things a priority if it means we neglect our relationship with our Lord and, ultimately, lose our own soul?
And what about the souls of others? Are we willing to do only the good that brings us pleasure if it means that others are lost for eternity. Jesus made it clear that the greatest good that we can do is to love God and to love one another (Mk. 12:31). What did He mean when He referred to this type of love? He also said, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13)." This means we are willing to forego the pleasures of this world (I John 2:15-16), so that the love of God can flow through us to those in need. That is God's purpose for us. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:10)."
Godspeed, The Teacher
Jesus said, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul (Mk. 8:36)." By way of contrast, Jesus is saying that to pursue the things of this world and to make these our priority could be very costly. I know many, and I am sure so do you, that have wasted their lives on the pursuit of wealth, status, position, or reputation. But, we are admonished not to become attached to the "things of this world (I John 2:15-16)." Though God is not against personal wealth or any of these other things, these should not be our goals. Paul was able to say that he had learned to be content with plenty and want (Phil. 4:12). When we fail to be content with what is from the Lord, we miss out on what His plan is for our lives. Are we willing to spend our whole lives pursuing what others have referred to as the "good life," if that means that we miss out on the blessings of seeing God working through us and accomplishing His purpose? Are we willing to make these things a priority if it means we neglect our relationship with our Lord and, ultimately, lose our own soul?
And what about the souls of others? Are we willing to do only the good that brings us pleasure if it means that others are lost for eternity. Jesus made it clear that the greatest good that we can do is to love God and to love one another (Mk. 12:31). What did He mean when He referred to this type of love? He also said, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13)." This means we are willing to forego the pleasures of this world (I John 2:15-16), so that the love of God can flow through us to those in need. That is God's purpose for us. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:10)."
Godspeed, The Teacher
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