In Jesus Holy Name October 10, 2021
Text: Galatians 5:22-23
“A Fruit Called Goodness”
3rd in the series
All week I was wondering if this is a foolish topic. Every parent, every grandparent, every teacher knows what it means to be “good”. To be “good” is simply to obey the rules. Don’t talk back. Don’t get into trouble. The word ‘good’ is used so frequently in our everyday lives that it almost loses its meaning. For example, how many times a day do we say, “good morning”, “good luck”. This was a good day. That was a good lunch. It was so good to see you? Be good. We use the word all the time.
The spiritual fruit of “goodness” is different. It accomplished by the Holy Spirit. So how is that different? To “be good” does mean “keep the rules”. “Good” usually means something was successful or enjoyable. “Goodness” is a character trait, that leads to good actions that others experience and see.
Paul notes that the fruit of goodness can only come after kindness. What exactly is goodness? The Bible tells us that the word ‘goodness’ actually means holy, pure and righteousness. Literally goodness is godliness, a righteous character. https://www.ospreyobserver.com
I read the news the other day, but the newspaper very seldom has long articles on “acts of goodness”, bad news seems to sell better…shootings are on the rise, the pandemic is still with us, there is political unrest in the streets and at school board meetings. Our news media seems to remind us that we are living in a chaotic world.
Crazy, that this is our reality, right?
As followers of Jesus how do we keep our balance? How can we stay attuned to the realities of our day, care about the circumstances in front of us and still have our mindset focused on imitating Jesus? Over the past few Sundays we have been examining the character traits that should be obvious in a Christian’s life. We talked about patience, then kindness, and now the topic is goodness.
How can you extend goodness and grace? (Jenny Randle devotionals)
We've made it this far, navigating heavy questions like:
• Should the kids go to school? Will they have to get COVIN shots?
• What mask should I wear?
• Should we go back to church in the building? Even though some are still worried that we might be too close.
• Are we excited about a vaccine booster for COVID?
• I may loose my job if I don’t have “the” shot, what's next?
• Can I take a nap? Yes and amen.
I found an excellent word of advice on living out the character trait of goodness: “Live in such a way that if people should see you, they should see God’s goodness in you.” (writer us unknown) There is a reason Paul listed the fruits of the Spirit in a descending order.. First, love. For when you have “agape” selfless love in your heart then the other character traits flow …joy, peace. If you are at peace, not agitated, then patience can be experienced by you and those around you. Once you have patience you can demonstrate kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).
Imagine how different our relationships would be if we were always people of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness...
Paul tells us that these character traits are always in conflict with our sinful nature. He wrote: “The sinful nature, desires what is contrary to the Spirit, They are in conflict with each other.” Galatians 5:17-18
What Paul is saying is that our “habits” are normally “selfish”. It is seldom that we do wrong as the result of careful deliberation. (Dallas Willard Divine Conspiracy p. 343) The example is King David. He saw Bathsheba bathing through an open window shade. He could have turned around and walked away, but his selfish desire took over. Then his act of “wrongdoing” by human nature caused him to do more wrong by “denying, misleading, and rationalizing and finally murder. He could not say: “Well, I’m only human.”
James reminds us: “When tempted no one can say God is tempting me.
Temptation is a result of the inner selfish nature that gives birth to a sinful action and the consequence is death and separation from God.
In Galatians 5-19-21 Paul runs through the list of habits that can control our mind and actions. (read Gal. 5:19-21)
Look at the story of Ananias and Sapphria in Acts 5. They were part of the Christian Church after the day of Pentecost.
Read v 1-2 They saw the money…. And their human nature gave in to greed. Paul in Colossians 3:5 states clearly that our human nature on its own chooses greed which is idolatry. Ananias and Sapphria still wanted recognition. Selfish ambition lead them to cheat the Holy Spirit and the “church”.
V 3-5 (read) They made a choice to allow their human nature to be taken over by greed and selfish ambition. They got recognition, but not the kind they were hoping for.
As Christians they had a choice. Paul calls our human nature the “Old Adam”. “I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out …the evil that I do not want to do I keep on doing.” It is sin living in me. When I want to do good evil is right there with me…” It is a struggle to live a righteous life filled with kindness and goodness. (Romans 7:14-20)
This is the same struggle every Alcoholic faces with every commercial that advertises Budweiser. It is faced every time they go to a restaurant or to a party. The mind must make a decision to reject the temptation.
This is why Paul writes… If you want your life to demonstrate love, which then gives you the experience of joy, which then allows your heart to experience peace, that leads to patience, kindness and goodness, which is righteous behavior, then you must keep in step with the Holy Spirit. It is your responsibility.
In the book of James 1:17 we find these words: “Every good and perfect gift comes down from our Father in Heaven…” Two things are noted. There is “The good gift” and there is the “perfect gift”. The good gift is expressing acts of love by serving others, demonstrating patience, when you demonstrate patience, acts of kindness and goodness follow.
The perfect gift is actually bestowed. The Perfect gift is God’s gift of eternal life and forgiveness through His Son’s death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. The young man’s question in todays “gospel reading” (Mark 10:17-21) to Jesus was flawed. He asked: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
God saved us because He is infinitely kind. Even though we're thoroughly sinful and separated from God, God looked upon us in kindness and love. His heart was filled with kindness toward us, which is why He sent His Son to die in our place so that we could be forgiven. There is nothing the young man can do to “inherit eternal life”. There is nothing we can do because eternal life is God’s gift by faith in Jesus. The Apostle Paul writes: “We have been justified by faith and thus have peace with God, through Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1-2)
What does God then expect? He expects every believer to allow the Holy Spirit to produce His fruits, His character traits in our lives. We live in a world that is desperate for kindness. People increasingly treat each other with shocking amounts of unkindness, and when we are kind we reflect on the abundant, overwhelming kindness of God.
Notice that “Goodness” follows Kindness as a “fruit of the Spirit.” Goodness means much more than simply being a good person. Rather, it means actively seeking to be righteous in our character. The fruit of “goodness” when abundant rejects greed, selfish ambition, lust, jealousy, drunkenness etc.
Rodney Smith is on a mission to mow lawns in all 50 states, but his goal isn't just about lawn care -- it's about letting people know he cares. He encourages children to take up the challenge of doing acts of kindness by mowing the lawns. Mowing lawns is an act of kindness. It is a good action.
In 2016, Smith founded a lawn care nonprofit, Raising Men Lawn Care Service, in his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama. Raising Men Lawn Care Service helps young people give back to their communities. The kids in the program visit veterans, the disabled, the elderly, single moms and anyone who needs help doing yard work. They mow people's lawns, shovel snow, rake leaves and more -- free of charge.
He writes: "In 2016, I saw a man mowing his lawn, struggling. So I got out of my car and helped him," That moment inspired me to create the movement. He says at the time he was completing his bachelor's degree in computer science. He began mowing lawns for those in need whenever he had free time. "I cut lawns in between classes," he recalled. Simple acts of kindness. Good deeds follow kindness of the heart. Good deeds makes kindness a reality.
Jesus has promised every Christians His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the essence of God’s power and presence in the world. Paul understood that “love, joy, peace, patience, goodness (righteous behavior or character traits) are actions from the heart motivated by the Holy Spirit flowing through the followers of Jesus.
“Goodness” is a character trait, that leads to good actions that others experience and see. the word ‘goodness’ actually means holy, pure and righteousness. Literally goodness is godliness, a righteous character.
Can “goodness”, can righteousness be a character trait demonstrated in your life? Yes!
I try to read Martin Luther’s Morning Prayer each morning over my cup of coffee.
Here is a change up version.
“I thank you, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that all my (actions) and character traits may please You. Help me “keep in step with Your Holy Spirit, so that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
