9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit (7) Fruit of Goodness
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December 19, 2021 |
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 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Gal. 5:22-23
Dictionary definition of goodness refers to the state or quality of being good, generosity; kindness, moral excellence; piety; virtue. In spiritual sense, it is to seek goodness in the Spirit, namely to follow goodness in the truth.
The goodness in one's heart is certainly revealed by his actions. Thus, if we bear the fruit of goodness, we will emit the aroma of Christ and become the light and salt of the world.
1. What Is Fruit of Goodness?
1) Outward Representation of the Heart that Pursues Desires of the Spirit
Even some nonbelievers try to follow ways of goodness. They also discern between good and evil according to their conscience. However, each one’s conscience is different from one another.
Conscience is the standard to judge between good and evil. It is based on one’s nature, which is different according to what they inherit from their parents and how they are raised. Even though children are raised in same family, they turn out differently according to how they accept their education.
People’s consciences become different depending on what kind of value system they were taught. Therefore, even those who follow their conscience can’t be considered absolutely good.
However, for the believers, they have only one standard to discern between good and evil. It is the word of God, which never changes. It is ‘goodness’ to take this standard of the truth and act according to it. It is to follow the desires of the Spirit. But having earnest desire to follow goodness doesn’t necessarily mean we’ve borne the fruit of goodness.
Those who follow goodness will show their heart outwardly through their actions (Matt. 12:35, Prov. 22:11). Wherever they go and whoever they meet, they show virtue and love with good words and actions. Let us check whether or not we’re actually showing the good deeds, even if we might think we’re longing for goodness.
2) One Can’t Help But Choose Goodness in All Things
Phil. 2:1-4 says, “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Those who have borne the fruit of goodness will cooperate even with the things they don’t really agree. They’re humble and they don’t try to be recognized. They respect even those who are not rich or well-educated and become their true friends.
Even when others harass them for no reason they still have mercy on them. They just humble themselves, so they can pursue peace with everyone and holiness. They do their work faithfully and care for other people’s work as well.
Luke chapter 10 tells us about a man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. He was robbed and left half-dead. A priest saw him but just passed. So did a Levite.
They knew the word of God and were serving God. They had to keep the Law of God better than ordinary people. But when they actually had to do God’s will, they didn't.
On the contrary, the Good Samaritan had goodness in his heart. He couldn’t just turn away from the dying man. Even if it meant he had to spend his own time and money, he couldn’t just neglect the person in need. When he couldn’t help him personally, he paid someone else to help.
If he had just passed him by just because he had a reason, he’d have had the burden for the rest of his life. Namely, he couldn’t help but choose to do good. This is the heart of goodness.
3) He Will Not Quarrel, Nor Cry Out; Nor Will Anyone Hear His Voice in the Streets.
Matt. 12:19-20 says, “He will not quarrel, nor cry out; nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A battered reed He will not break off, and a smoldering wick He will not put out, Until He leads justice to victory.”
If we bear the fruit of goodness, we won’t have any conflict with anyone, just like the Lord. We won’t speak of others’ faults either. We won’t try to be lifted up. Even if we might suffer injustice we won’t complain.
If there is any conflict, the cause lies within us. It’s not because someone is giving us a hard time or because others are doing something unreasonable. It’s only because we don’t have broad enough hearts to accept them, and because we have the prejudice that makes crashing noises. If our peace is broken and we have ill-feelings in a certain situation, we have to realize we still have evil in our heart.
If we have goodness, we won’t break a bruised reed or put out a smoldering wick. If there is any chance of living, we won’t take the life away but try to give them life. ‘Bruised reed’ refers to those filled with sins and evil of the world. ‘Smoldering wick’ symbolizes those stained by evil so much that their souls are dying.
Today, even in the church there are people who still live in sins and even stand against God. Some act in evil because they want to be loved and recognized in the church but they aren’t. Some slander others while some others cause trouble in all kinds of work just because they are not leading them.
Even for people such as these, one with fruit of goodness will accept them. They won’t try to decide who is right and who is wrong or bring others to submission. They treat others with a good heart to melt and move their heart.
Of course, there are still people who go the way of death no matter how good you are to them. However, one with goodness will never give up on them but try to save them.
2. Power to Follow Goodness in the Truth
This fruit of goodness might seem similar with other fruits of the Spirit. You might wonder thinking, “The Good Samaritan helped the person with mercy, love, charitable mind, and compassion,” “If you don’t quarrel or cry out, isn’t it peace and humbleness?” “Do all these qualities belong to goodness?”
Of course, love, charitable work, mercy, compassion, peace, and humbleness all belong to goodness. Goodness is the original nature of God and it is vast.
But the specific quality that we’re talking about in goodness here is the power to actually follow goodness. In case of mercy the focus is to help those in need. For goodness, it is the power to actually choose to show mercy and help the one in need.
Also, not quarreling and not crying out are in regard to peace and humbleness. Here, goodness is to be unable to break peace and to actually follow the humble way.
If we bear the fruit of goodness completely, we’ll be faithful in all God’s household. If we don’t do our job properly, someone else will probably suffer, and God’s kingdom won’t be accomplished to that same extent.
Dear brothers and sisters, the evil people feel uncomfortable when they don’t give out evil. If they are wrongfully accused, they can’t bear it without giving out evil. They have to let their anger out to eventually feel comfortable. Even if it means hurting others, they still do it anyway.
On the contrary, those who are good will feel uncomfortable when they don’t follow the way of goodness. Even when they have the freedom to enjoy something, if there is slightest chance it might cause discomfort to others, they feel peaceful and happy not enjoying it. When we act in goodness in all things in this way, we can be considered to have borne the fruit of goodness.
May you keep the word of God and bear the fruit of goodness, thereby giving out the aroma of Christ and giving glory to God in all things, I pray this in the name of the Lord!
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