by Rich DuBose
"Goodness is the only investment that never fails." — Henry David Thoreau
If you want to live a life of danger, where everything gets edgy, unpredictable, and risky, then do evil. Do bad things. Break promises, lie, steal, use other people to better yourself. It will be exciting—in a disgusting kind of way. And you’ll always have to look over your shoulder, because a lot of people will hate you. You may die young, or death may come to you when you’re old, shriveled up and wasted. The predictable outcome of pursuing such a course is that your thoughts will be tinged with regret, sorrow, and a soul hunger that no amount of earthly achievement can satisfy.
Evil dies hard. Solomon says, the way of the transgressor is hard. The English Revised translation reads, “Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin” (Proverbs 13:15).
In contrast with evil-doing, goodness surrounds itself with joy, forgiveness, generosity, and humility. In Psalm 34:11-14 David urges us…
“Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.” (English Standard Version)
Again, the Psalmist says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love (goodness) endures forever” (Psalm 136:1).
What makes goodness so attractive is its durability—the fact that it supports wellness and promotes longevity. Wrong-doing destroys reverence for life and the humble aspects of responsible living. The idea of caring for others and taking time to build meaningful relationships within a community requires discipline and personal sacrifice—something that careless, impatient people, don’t feel they can do.
The Practicality of Goodness
Some people are so heavenly minded they’re of no earthy good. They’re so busy building their personal kingdoms and pursuing their agendas, they miss seeing the pressing needs of the world around them; the needs of family members, neighbors, or of individuals within their communities. Others are so crushed by the world with its ugliness and endless need, they would rather hide away somewhere than try to confront it.
A meaningful life is associated with paying attention to those around us, with contributing, in small and large ways, to the well-being others.
A most striking example of this is the story of Sir Nicholas Winton, a young British stockbroker who in 1939 organized the rescue of 669 Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia before Hitler could get his hands on them. Winton secured their safe passage to Britain on the Kindertransport trains and found them foster families. It happened under the noses of the very ones who were determined to destroy every Jew they could find.
Today some are engaged in similar heroic efforts to alleviate a specific and uniquely urgent pressing need* Thank God there are people who care more about their fellow human beings who are hurting than the narrow agendas of ideologues and political provocateurs. If we let God show us, we’ll see the broken-hearted, the destitute, the frightened immigrants, the impoverished families living below the poverty line, and those who are wearied by their addictions. Millions are slaves to hate, politics, and greed—to the point they are stuck in a quagmire of animus and the poverty of riches. Thousands are so poor, all they have is money, which can be exceedingly sad. Imagine you are besieged with money, stocks, and bonds, but you’ve run out of purpose and the will to do good. You are destitute of goodwill and a meaningful mission.
Origins of Despair
Shortly after the Edenic fall of our first parents, the powers of darkness conspired to destroy the goodness that God had embedded in their hearts. The end result was selfishness and a loss of reverence for life. Eventually, as the population grew, many lost sight of their God-given purpose and became enamored with hoarding and consuming resources—as if their presence on earth was permanent. They lived totally for themselves until they suddenly expired.
Such is the plight of millions who feel disillusioned and useless.
Shakespeare’s Macbeth portrays a devastating expression of nihilism and despair that emerges in a line after he learns of his wife's death and realizes his life of “bloody ambition” has ultimately amounted to nothing:
“Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.*
The Joy of Usefulness
The opposite of despair is usefulness and of knowing that our existence counts for something enduring. Solomon, the self-proclaimed expert on despair, learned that meaning can only be found in embracing the course God gives us to follow. In Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 he says, “There is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. (NIV).
Forget about achieving notoriety or amassing great wealth, which Solomon likens to chasing the wind. Forget about putting your interests and needs above everyone else’s, and pay attention to Solomon’s advice. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT).
Pay attention to your interests, along with the gifts you have been given, and ask God to help you leave the world in better shape than you found it. Even if your impact feels small, unnoticed, and kind of meager, pay more attention to the depth of your life than the breadth. The breath of your influence and effort is God’s responsibility, not yours.
Finally, Micah’s advice to Israel and consequently to all who aspire to embrace God’s mission is the best summary of how we are called to love.
“The LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NLT).
Such a course is the most lasting and durable thing any of us can do in a world that is constantly changing, crumbling, and passing away.
*SparksNotes (a website that features quotes about Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Rich DuBose writes from Northern California | Image by Rich DuBose | Honoring Sir Winton Nicholas
On the web at: richdubose.com. All Rights Reserved © 2026. Join me on Blue Sky @spiritrenew.bsky.social.
Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.