FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law.”  (Galatians 5:22-23)

 

The sixth attribute of this nine-fold fruit:

6.  Goodness

What is Goodness?  Goodness is being generous and open-hearted.  A genuine desire for the happiness of others.  It is an inner nature created by the Holy Spirit, that causes us to be sensitive to the needs of others.

 

Goodness involves deliberate deeds that are helpful to others.  God’s Goodness consists of righteousness, holiness, justice, grace, mercy and of course, love.  (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 31:19; 145:9)  “O taste and see that the Lord is good:  blessed is the man that trusteth in him.“  (Psalm 34:8)  “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.“  (Psalm 107:9)  If we are hungry for more of God, He will fill us with the Goodness of His Spirit that will not only satisfy that longing we have, but it will enable us to be Good.  If we are followers of God, then we are called to Goodness because He is good. 

 

We have many opportunities to perform good deeds in our daily lives.  The challenge is to always be alert and ready.  Don’t look at these instances as inconveniences or interruptions, but as opportunities to fulfill God’s purpose.  One of the first places you can perform good deeds is at your job.  How many of your co-workers know that you are a Christian?  Would they be surprise to know that you’re saved and go to church?  If they don’t know, isn’t something wrong with that, if you call yourself a “Believer”?

 

We need to be able to recognize the good deeds God has prepared for us at our jobs.  Those deeds are always consistent with the abilities and skills He has given us.  He has strategically placed us in circumstances that will give Him glory.  Are we alert enough to recognize that?  It is not by happenstance that you are working where you are.  There is no coincidence with God.  We should be seeking God to see what our purpose is for working at that particular company and why He has blessed us with certain skills and talents.  We should never look at our jobs as a necessary evil to pay the bills, or as an opportunity to get rich.  We should look at our chosen vocations as God-ordained.

 

When you think about it, we spend most of our waking moments at our jobs.  So, if we fail to be in-tune to the Holy Spirit, we will miss the chances to do good deeds.  That’s like throwing half of our lives away!  If you don’t feel like the particular job you’re at allows you to display God’s Goodness, then prayerfully seek Him for direction and change.

 

So, how can we exhibit Goodness at work or in our daily lives? 

Ÿ        Do the right thing even when it doesn’t feel like you should. 

Ÿ        Put other’s needs before your own. 

Ÿ        Display moral character and integrity in all of your dealings.

Ÿ        Display a sense of gratitude for the job you’ve been blessed with.

Ÿ        Work as if you are working for Christ.  (In actuality, you are!)

Ÿ        Be slow to anger and quick to repent.

Ÿ        Stand up for truth and righteousness, not compromising your faith.

Ÿ        Be able to see and sense other’s pain.

Ÿ        Pray for your co-workers.  And not just the ones you like!!!

 

Goodness is self-sacrificing.  “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.  Entirely on their own”  (2 Corinthians 8:3)  The Christian who desires to display Goodness, will willingly give of their time and money without complaint.  This is truly an act of faith, when you give of yourself and money even though you think you can’t afford to.  We can always cop out and say, “We’re  too busy to help”, unless we understand the importance God puts on us doing good deeds for others.  I learned a saying long time ago, “Excuses are tools of incompetence, which build monuments into nothing.  Those who specialize in them are seldom good at anything else.”  Are you an “Excuse Specialist”?

 

Goodness is also indefatigable.  It is one thing to do good on an occasion or when the mood strikes, but it is quite another to faithfully perform a deed over and over again.  Especially, when no recognizes you for it or it appears that the receivers take it for granted.  Remember Goodness does not do things for recognition or rewards, nor looks at the receivers or the end results.  You are considered good if you seek the approval of God, not man.  “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them.  If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.  So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.“  (Matthew 6:1-4)  If you desire to please God with your good deeds, He will give you the strength to carry on.  “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:  But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  (Isaiah 40:29-31)

 

Are you sitting on the sidelines or in the pews waiting for God to give you a sign to display Goodness?  Stop waiting and get up off of your ‘Blessed ASSurance” and get involved!  I’m sure your church could use more volunteers and more financial support.  Trust God and step out on faith!  Use your gifts and talents to display God’s Goodness on your job, at your church and in your community.  There are a lot of hurting people and they are just waiting for someone to show them God’s Goodness.  “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”  (1 Peter 4:10)  You don’t have to go out and save the world, like pulling someone from a burning house.  It could be something as simple as having a listening ear.

 

If we take our focus off of ourselves and our concerns, we will see how much this world needs Jesus.  Then we will be able to make the time to get involved to serve someone else.  Go to your place of employment with joy and gratitude in your heart and get involved in your local church by serving your fellow man.  Remember, we are responsible for doing God’s will and exposing them to God’s Goodness.  This is the way they will see Jesus Christ living in us!

 

Next time we will discuss Faith.