Lord’s Day, Vol. 4 No. 18
The Fruit of the Spirit is Goodness
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Biblical “goodness” is an active, energetic principle. It is the generosity which springs from the heart that is kind and will always take care to obtain for others that which is useful or beneficial. It is character energized, expressing itself in benevolence. [Complete Word Study Dictionary of the New Testament]
The word “goodness” is a compound word with the adjective “good”. It speaks of uprightness in character. Biblical goodness is opposite to badness, evil, malice, mischievousness, malignity, selfishness. It is an attitude that seeks to do good. [The Quest for Character, John MacArthur, 96]
The outworking of biblical “goodness” is taught in Galatians 6:9-10, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
One Thing I Ask
Another day is done
And I have seen the golden sun
Swing in the arch from east to west
And sink behind the pines to rest
I thank Thee that Thou gavest me
The power of sight that I may see
The tinted glories of Thy skies,
An earthly glimpse of Paradise;
The power to hear the evening breeze
Swelling in organ harmonies;
The power to feel the tender grasp
Of loving hands in friendship clasp;
I thank Thee for these gifts to me;
But one thing more I ask of Thee:
From out Thy bounteous, gracious hand
Give me the power to understand,
To note the pain in others’ eyes;
To have the power rightly to read
The kindly motive of each deed.
And this I humbly ask of Thee
Because I know, Thou lovest me.
Amen.
– Author unknown
Kind Words and Deeds
Kind hearts are the gardens
Kind thoughts are the roots,
Kind words are the flowers,
Kind deeds are the fruits.
Take care of your garden,
And keep out the weeds;
Fill it with sunshine,
Kind words and kind deeds.
– Longfellow
The fruit of goodness is manifested as follows:
(a) Not weary in well-doing – Developing a Courage and Consistency for doing good
Do not lose heart or lose courage to do good because it comes with a promise of reward – “in due season we shall reap”.
Well-doing requires continued effort, constant toil; but human nature, being fond of ease, lacks staying power, is easily discouraged. This is especially true when results are not always apparent at once, when those who should help refuse to co-operate, and when no reward seems ever coming our way. (William Hendriksen).
Perseverance in good works is a product of God’s grace, the Spirit’s blessed fruit. The power to persevere is from Him; the responsibility is ours.
The Apostle Paul learnt this principle from our Lord Himself. Acts 20:35 “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Likewise, in the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord Jesus exhorted, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
(b) Doing good to all men, especially to those who are of the household of faith – Developing a consistency of good works beginning with our family!
Consider this pointed question, “Can a man love God while ignoring the needs of his brother?”
The same admonition is echoed in Proverbs 21:13, “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.” In Proverbs 22:9, “He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.“
Our selfishness causes us to withhold dues. And “if we build to please ourselves, we are building upon sand; if we build for the love of God, we are building on the rock“.
The character of benevolence is a godly trait that we do well to manifest it in our daily walk with the Lord. It is the sign of Christian maturity.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee