S4P6 – The fruit of goodness

Gal 5: 22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such things there is no law.

The word translated as goodness in the verse above also can be translated as generosity.  Elsewhere in the New Testament it is translated as virtue and beneficence.  These words illustrate that goodness carries with it the attitude of giving.  Goodness causes us to bless others; it is not merely an attitude or emotion but is an action. We can see it as a current flowing through a conduit. Rather than being something that be feel, goodness for the Christian should be something that we do.

When goodness manifests in us, it is as a generous deed for the benefit of another.  Goodness is not something practiced unto one’s self.  It is from God’s goodness that his blessings overflow to us, and it is from our goodness that these blessings overflow to others.  To bless others from the overflow of the Father’s blessings to us is indeed virtuous and beneficent. Again, just like all of the other spiritual fruit we can expect the Lord to produce in us, we first receive it before we can give it. We learn from his goodness what it looks like for this fruit to bear in us.

An empty wineskin gives no relief in the desert.  First, it must be filled.  In order for us to show goodness to others, we first must receive it from the Father. This is not about him waiting to pour out goodness on us; He has been good to us always. This is about receiving his goodness through submission, And once we receive the Father’s blessing, the expectation is that we pour out from our overflow and bless others.  Father, give us a desire to bask in your goodness, and give us generous hearts that desire to treat others with the goodness You have shown us.