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.
I didn’t have to teach my kids to be selfish. Did you. One of the first words that kids learn in mine! Humans have an innate tendency to do wrong and be selfish. The Bible says:
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Rom 3:23 (NASB)
The Old Testament puts it this way:
“All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way.” Isa 53:6a (NASB)
No – there is none of us who are naturally good. In fact even Jesus made this statement:
“No one is good except God alone.” Mark 10:18b (NASB)
This may shock you but the truth is that a lot of times I don’t want to be good either. In fact a lot of times – I like to sin! Sometimes I would rather be unloving than loving. I would rather return a smart remark than a kind word. Sometimes I just want to be selfish. Sometimes I am just plain mean. Sometimes I am lazy. Sometimes I just don’t care. Sometimes I can hardly stand being around myself.
But the truth is – I am a walking civil war. I know what I “should” do – but I just don’t want to do it. Is there anyone else here who has this problem? You know what is right – but you just want to do wrong? Paul had this problem when he wrote:
“For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me….Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Rom 7:19-20; 24-25a
But folks here is a fact:
GOD WORKS IN US AND THROUGH US AT THE SAME TIME
Do you recall the verse we read earlier from Ephesians? It 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)
Look at the first phrase there. “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus” – this means that God is at work in our lives. He knows a stubborn hearts. He knows are selfishness. He knows our rebellion. Yet he is still at work in us and through us. Philippians 2:13 says:
“It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Php 2:13 (NASB)
The Contemporary English Version says it this way:
“God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him.”
Php 2:13 (CEV)
By God’s grace and power he is changing us. But we should want to change too. Titus 3:1 says:
“Be ready for every good deed.” Titus 3:1b (NASB)
BECOMING READY FOR EVERY GOOD DEED
Here are five simple suggestions to be ready for doing good.
1. MASTER Your Bible
First, “become a student of God’s Word.” Read the Bible – Study the Bible – Memorize the Bible. Fill you mind with it – fill your life with it. You have only two sources from which to develop your values – the world or the Word. The choice is up to you.
Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
2 Tim. 3:16-17 (NASB)
Master the Bible if you want to do good. It is not enough to own a Bible – you have to use it. A Bible in the hand is worth two on the shelf. If I were to ask you if you believe the Bible from cover to cover you would probably say you do. But have you read it from cover to cover? How do you know you believe it if you don’t even know what is in it?
Perhaps you are saying, “Well – I don’t understand the Bible.” Let me ask, “Did you understand math before you studied it?” We all had to learn that one plus one equals two. We started out simple. Do the same thing with the Bible. Get a good translation – one you can understand and start reading. Perhaps start in the Psalms or in Mark. Just read. Are you going to understand it all? No! Neither do I – but I understand some and sometimes – some is enough.
Mark Twain once said, “It’s not the parts of the Bible that I don’t understand that bother me, it’s the part that I do understand.”
Second,
2. GUARD Your Mind
Second if you want to do good – learn to control what goes on inside your mind. Proverbs 23:7 says:
“For as he thinks within himself, so he is.” Proverbs 23:7a (NASB)
Sin always starts in the mind. Satan plants ideas – called temptations – in your head. If you nurture these temptations in your mind – they will become reality in your life. Sin always starts in your mind – so guard your mind.
Some things are not worth thinking about. Some things are not worth worrying about. Some things are not worth watching. Some things are not worth reading. Some things are not worth listening to. Guard your mind. Philippians 4:8 says:
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (NASB)
3. DEVELOP Convictions
Third – if you want to learn to do good – develop convictions.
What do you stand for? It has been said that if you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything.
This is especially true in America’s pluralistic society, where everything is tolerated – except for intolerance. We love to appear open-minded. The problem is that some people are so open-minded that their brains fall out! They don’t stand for anything.
Do you know the difference between an opinion and a conviction? An opinion is something that you hold – a conviction is something that holds you. An opinion is something you will argue about. A conviction is something you will suffer and die for.
Do you realize that Christians are supposed to hate some things? Romans 12:9 says:
“Hate what is evil. Do only what is good.” Romans 12:9b (ERV)
This is pretty clear – we are supposed to hate evil. We are supposed to love people – but if they do evil – we are to hate the evil that they do.
That leads us to the fourth suggestion in being ready to do good.
4. DARE To Be Different
To learn to do good – you must have the courage to be different from your culture. John tells us:
“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.”
3 John 1:11 (NASB)
Do you remember the story of the three young Israelite men who wouldn’t bow down to the statue of King Nebuchadnezzar and were thrown into the fiery furnace? (Dan. 3) When you are a person of integrity, you are going to go through the fire. You can count on it.
Speaking of heat – are you a thermostat or a thermometer? You are one or the other. A thermometer “registers” the temperature. It simply reflects its environment – whether it’s hot or cold. A thermostat on the other hand, “controls” the temperature. It influences its environment – it sets the standard. Which are you – a thermometer or a thermostat?
Folks you have a choice – you can either be an influence on the world or be influenced by the world. The Bible says:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Rom 12:2 (NASB)
And if you want to be ready to do good:
5. FELLOWSHIP With Other Believers
One quality of the early Christians was that they supported one another. They met together regularly to challenge and encourage one another. The author of Hebrews tells us:
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Heb 10:23-25 (NASB)
Our fellowship with other believers is designed to encourage us to live good lives in an evil world. As Christians we are not to imitate the world but neither are we to live in isolation from it. To do this we need one another.
You don’t find soldiers going out on their own to do battle with enemy forces. They go in groups because there is strength in numbers. The Bible says:
“One can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” Ecc 4:12 (NASB)
As Christians we need one another. I encourage you to fellowship with other believers.
The Christian life is not easy but it is eternally worthwhile. Doing good is not always easy but there is a reward. Galatians 6:9 says:
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Gal 6:9-10 (NASB)
How do you keep on keeping on? By mastering the Bible – by guarding your mind – by developing convictions – by having the courage to be different and by meeting regularly with other Christians for support and encouragement.
I would like to thank Rick Warren for the sermon starter ideas.
