Why we love good things

You and I are made for goodness

We're wired to love what's good and reject what’s evil. It’s just part of being human.

I've never met serious parents who intentionally raise their kids to be bad people. Growing up, my parents always told me, "Do good, don’t hurt others." I'm guessing many of you heard something similar growing up.

Sure, the idea of good and bad can feel relative—what's considered polite or normal in one culture might seem strange in another. I get that. But even with all our differences, isn't there a deeper moral compass we all share? Across the world, we instinctively know that hurting others, stealing, or killing is wrong. That’s why stories about heroes and justice bring joy to us; they tap into something universal within us. It’s also why we feel a quiet ache when we hear about the suffering of people in places like North Korea. Deep down, we know that's not how human beings were meant to live. We know they deserve goodness, not the pain they're enduring.

Remember when someone asked what you wanted to be when you grew up? I said doctor. I thought it was amazing to heal people. My friends said things like astronaut, teacher, scientist, chef—all roles that make the world better. We were just kids, but somehow we were already drawn to helping, creating, and doing good. Think about that for a second.

Every major religion teaches some kind of moral code. Islam means "surrender," and I agree, surrendering to God is good. Buddhism teaches compassion and non-harm as the path to peace. Different beliefs, same motivation: a call to goodness.

Why? Because goodness speaks to something deep in all of us. We were made for it.

According to Romans 2, St. Paul explains that God's law—His moral truth—is written on our hearts. Even for those who’ve never heard of Christ, known anything about the Church, or read the Scriptures, there’s still an inner sense of right and wrong. He puts it this way: "They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness."(Romans 2:15)

That’s why even in the most remote places, people still feel remorseful when they do wrong and peace when they do what’s right. It’s not just about culture or upbringing—it's something deeper. It's spiritual. It's divine. Our pull toward goodness isn't random; it reflects the fingerprints of the One who made us.

Goodness isn’t just a nice idea—it's a part of our design. To support this, read Genesis 1, God created everything and saw that it was "good".

I am going to quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church to support my thoughts above and to close off this section.

"Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment.... For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God.... His conscience is man's most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths." - CCC 1776.

An invitation to you

If you're exploring the Christian faith and you place a high value on doing good works, keep doing them. Christianity is not against good works—in fact, it brings them to their fullest meaning. In Christ, good works are not just acts of kindness or things to check off the list to be a good person, but part of a life filled with hope, joy, and purpose in relationship with God.

Just so you know, Christ is here. He wants to complete you, to save you, to give your life true meaning, and to be united with you forever. This happens by grace through faith in Him, working through love, for Ephesians 2:8-10 says:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life."

The question is, will you let Him work through your good works and accomplish His will?

We are indeed made for goodness, good works naturally flow from a life aligned with God, and good works, also by virtue of our choice that we make daily, bless others and strengthen our relationship with Christ. Our true life comes not from our own striving (i.e., doing good works without Christ), but from Christ living in us and working through us. It is only through Him that our efforts are redeemed and our labours are not in vain. Will you let Him live through you?

Pray this prayer with me:

O God my Redeemer, help me surrender my thoughts, my will, and my works to you.

O God the Comforter, you are the one who seeks my heart and knows me by my name. If my thoughts and motives ever stray from what you have intended, send your Holy Spirit to admonish my heart and realign my path.

Jesus, most importantly, help me have faith in you. Jesus, I trust in you.

Amen.