Living The Good Life Series

Fruit of The Spirit – Goodness

Living The Good Life

We have been working our way through the virtues of the Fruit of the Spirit. Our focal verse for this series is from the book of Galatians where it says:

“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 (NASB)

Today we are going to look at goodness.

How would you define the word “good”? It is a word we use a lot. We talk about good food and good weather. We say, “Have a good day” or “He did a good job” or “It’s a good distance from here.” Many times we say, “I had a good time.” The word is used in a lot of many different ways.

If you look up the words “good” and “goodness” in the dictionary you will fine different categories for the word with three or four different uses or illustrations under each category. Likewise, the Greek and Hebrew words “good and “goodness” in the Bible are varied and full of meaning. The Bible has much to say about goodness.

One phrase we hear often is “living the good life.” In fact it is the name of this sermon. But what is the good life?

WHAT IS THE GOOD LIFE?

For some people thee good life means “looking good”. In America, looking good is serious business. Color coordination, hairdos, fashion – whatever it takes – we want to look good. We place a high premium on good looks. But do you know the problem with looking good? There is no universal standard. What looks good to you may not look good to me and vice versa. Looking good means different things to different people – and what is in fashion one day may be out of fashion the next.

Some people think the good life means “feeling good”. That may mean sitting in a hot tub – going on vacation – having a good meal – or just sitting down and reading a book. Just finding what feels good and doing it.

Still other people think the good life means “having goods”. They set about acquiring stuff – they like all their stuff but they want more stuff – but then they find that all their stuff won’t fit inside the place that they have – so they get a bigger place so they can have more stuff. They live the bumper sticker slogan – “The one with the most toys wins”. For these people the purpose life is to make money so you can get more stuff. They have stuffed their lives full of stuff.

The Bible presents a radically different picture of the good life. God says in his Word says that the good life is not based on looking good – feeling good – or having goods. God says the good life is a life filled with goodness. But what exactly is goodness?

In Genesis chapter one after God creates the universe it says:

“God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”

Gen 1:31 (NASB)

Why was it good? Because it was exactly the way God intended it to be. It was fulfilled the purpose for which it was created. “Goodness” means fulfilling a purpose. It is being what God meant you to be.

God made you for a purpose. When you live the way God intends for you to live – you will be good in God’s eyes. Your life will become meaningful. You will feel that you are doing what God intended you to do.

What does God intend to you do? Ephesians 2:10 says:

“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Eph 2:10 (NASB)

Go ahead and circle the words – “for good works”. We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus – “to do good works”. We are not saved “by” good works – we are saved “for” good works. The Christian lifestyle is to be a lifestyle of doing good – living in goodness.

WE ARE NOT NATURALLY GOOD

But there is a problem – “it is not our nature to be good”. We were all born with a natural inclination toward selfishness. We all like to have our way.

How many of you are parents? Let me ask you a question –you’re your kids ever tell a lie? Did they ever do anything wrong? Did you have to teach your kids how to lie? Did you have to teach them how to do bad stuff? Of course not! It comes naturally. You see it is not in our nature to do good.