Why is the Lagrange multiplier equal to zero if the constraint is slack?

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Suppose we have a problem such as:

max f(x) subject to g(x) $\le$ b

where, g(x) is the constraint function

The Lagrange for such a problem could be constructed as follows,

L(x, $\lambda\ $) = f(x) + $\lambda\ $.[b - g(x)]

From complementary slackness, $\lambda$.[b - g(x)] = 0, if the function binds the b-g(x) = 0, if it doesn't then $\lambda\ $ = 0, why is $\lambda$ = 0 if the constraint does not bind and is therefore slack?

Thank you.