".. IT IS GOOD. . . " Lamentations 3:26 I. Introduction. A. Some things are good; some things are not good. B. What may seem good to one may not to another. C. What may be good at one time may not be so at another time. D. Some things are good spiritually; some things are not. E. Jeremiah felt: Lamentations 3:26. l. Why? verse 25. 2. Jeremiah waited for God's help. II. Body. "It is good..." A. To draw near to God: Psalm 73:28. 1. Will include: a. Freely sacrificing: Psalm 54:6. b. Praise: Psalm 52:9. c. Singing praises: Psalm 147:1. 2. Distance from God does involve worship! 3. Consider those who are stronger in the Lord. a. Is it the person who forsakes assembling? b. Or the person who knows what good can be gained from being with others? 4. Who appreciates the singing of saints? or being able to give? 5. To draw near, one must sacrifice. B. To seek wisdom: 1. Note: Proverbs 24:13-14. 2. While earthly wisdom may have its place, it is spiritual wisdom that controls destiny! C. To learn the lessons of life: 1. To be afflicted: Psalm 119:71. 2. To bear the yoke in youth: Lamentations 3:27. (Read verses 28-32). 3. And to enjoy life: Ecclesiastes 5:18. 4. Those who refuse to accept the teaching of life itself also fail to accept the Lord. 5. And yet. . .life can be a cruel schoolmaster. 6. Only those who remember, above all else, they need the Lord's help will survive in life while preparing for heaven. 7. Even the prodigal realized where it was good. D. To do the right thing all of one's life: 1. When present with righteous and when not present: Galatians 4:18. 2. When it would influence other's to sin: Romans 14:21. 3. Everyone has an influence/affect Upon someone else--even outside the family. E. To give up certain rights (explain) when conditions warrant: 1. Note Paul's advice: I Corinthians 7:1, 8, 26. 2. How different from the way the world thinks. 3. One who does not learn to sacrifice wiII be sadly disappointed in this life and in eternity. 4. Sacrifice for the good of others measures the worth of the individual himself. 5. One must not be self-centered to be soul-centered. III. Conclusion. A. It is good to think about being good. B. It is good to realize that all of these lessons begin and end with me.-jy