Adding Goodness

DEVOTION

THE 2^ND LETTER OF PETER

ADDING GOODNESS

2 Peter 1:5-9

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

NIV

Because we participate or share in the divine nature and thus escaping the corruption of the world caused by evil desires, we are to make every effort to add certain qualities to our faith. Although we know that our faith is a gift from God, as it is to all men. He does not show favoritism so he has gifted all his creation, every person who has ever lived, faith. However, as with any gift in order to take advantage of its benefit, it has to be opened. So having opened this gift of faith and thus sharing in His divine nature, we are now admonished to do something, which appears to be by our effort. Because there are so many qualities we should add to our faith, we need to examine each one separately, then we can put it all together. So this adding goodness to our faith, the Greek sounds a little better as it reads, and besides this, giving all diligence add to your faith. That does still imply making every effort, but being diligent is even a stronger word. This Greek word translated diligence carries the idea of eagerness, earnestly, with haste. In other words, we should not be lazy about this, or think of it is by happenstance, but that we are to apply ourselves, to resolve to be committed to changing the way we think and behave so as to exhibit outwardly the faith which resides inwardly. Although adding goodness to our faith might also be an inward quality, it can also be an outward action. The Greek word translated goodness has the meaning of a virtuous cause of thought, feeling, or action. This is having a high moral standard which would affect the way we think and behave toward others. Having a high moral standard is not about some list of don’ts, but more of a list of do’s. Typically, when we think about goodness, we think of being good, that is not bad. But this Greek word that carries the meaning of having a high moral standard implies thinking like, always telling the truth, having courage, keeping our promise, not cheating, treating others as we want to be treated, no judging, be dependable, be forgiving, being loyal, not destroying property, seeking justice, having humility, and being generous, just to name a few of the thoughts and behavers of being virtuous or adding goodness to our faith. We can see how this is a responsive action both in thought and behavior, so let us apply all due diligence to adding goodness to our faith.