For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil. (Romans 16:19)

Wise In Good And Innocent Concerning Evil

There is a simple plan to deal with evil that has always been true. The man Job was a righteous man who was blameless and upright, feared God and shunned evil. He planned to stay as far away from evil as he could. He refused to be part of anything that was evil. The appearance of those things unrighteous would bring an immediate reaction from Job. He ran away from it. The simple plan to deal with evil was to stay away from it. Job was not a sinless man, but he had learned the art of sinning less. Evil was not in his language or behavior.

The wisdom found in righteousness not only has benefits in the life to come but also serves as a model by which to live in this life. Godliness is a better way to live with greater benefits than following the way of ungodliness. Paul wanted the Roman Christians to be wise in all things good and to have an innocence of evil because of their unfamiliarity with such things. To be wise in the world is not always a good thing. The spirit of temptation can become stronger with greater knowledge of evil. Paul’s commendation was to stay far away from evil and embrace goodness and righteousness.

Trying to live a holy life requires training the mind not to be disposed to do wrong. Filling the heart with the goodness of God’s grace will incline the heart to be more holy and pure. If someone lives so close to the line of evil to prove their courage, they show their weakness in not understanding the power of sin. The wise man suggested no one can take fire into his bosom and his clothes not be burned. Playing with fire will lead to injuries by fire. Learning to be wise in the word of God will help the heart find fewer consequences to the ravages of sin.

Being disposed to righteousness is planned. Refusing to yield to wickedness is also planned. The heart must be determined to seek every good and reject every evil. There must be a concerted effort of the heart and mind to hate those things that are evil, despise the wicked way, and repudiate the nature of the devil’s wiles. The children of God must always seek to place themselves apart from the influence of the world. Being a friend of the world makes one an enemy of God. Jesus taught that it is impossible to serve God and mammon because one will be loved and one will be hated.

To be wise in goodness is to learn everything there is to know about what defines goodness. The Bible is the only message from God that describes the true nature of goodness. Faith comes from hearing the word of God because the wisdom of holiness is established in the divine book. Reading the Bible will help the heart find the goodness of God. Growing in faith from the message of the gospel elevates the heart to serve God and deny the trials of temptation. Being wise in that which is good and innocent of those things evil is the pure heart desired by the Lord.