Harvesting the Fruit of Goodness

“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

God’s goodness supersedes our own. While we’re instructed to be good and teach the younger generation to follow that path, it is God who is good and helps us follow His example and instructions. He created us in His image and, when we accept His Son as our Savior, His Spirit indwells us and produces the fruit of goodness in us. As we are taught in Galatians 5:16-25, it’s up to us to walk in His Spirit instead of our flesh. Submitting to God’s will and ways is how we reap the fruit of goodness from His Spirit. It’s all ripe and ready to pick. We just have to harvest it. With the beautiful fall season arriving, it’s perfect timing.

So, let’s get our garden shovels out and do some digging to see what this fruit of goodness is all about. First we’ll look at the Greek definition for the term used in the Galatians passage:

Goodness – Greek #19 – agathosune
from 18; goodness, i.e. virtue or beneficence:–
(Strong’s Concordance)

As we see from this definition, goodness is made up of two attributes. The first is “virtue” and the second is “beneficence.” When we dig a little deeper we learn what those two words mean for us in relation to the fruit of goodness from God’s Holy Spirit.

Reaping Virtue

Strength, courage and moral excellence are some of characteristics that define virtue. These are the virtuous things that God’s Holy Spirit provides in His goodness that helps us to be good. He enables us to stand for truth and stay holy, just and pure.

“I had fainted, unless I had believed to see
the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”
Psalm 27:13

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
Psalm 23:6

“Oh how great is thy goodness,
which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee;
which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee
before the sons of men!”
Psalm 31:19

To engage in this characteristic of goodness, we have to act. Not for ourselves but in outreach to others. We may be comfortable living in our level of goodness where we feel strong and try to behave morally, but God’s goodness goes further and extends outward. It is “active goodness” that shows kindness and charity to others.

Sadly, I have not always been good or done good things for others. When I get in the flesh and follow my fleshly desires, attitudes and weaknesses, I stray far from God’s garden and miss out on reaping His fruit of goodness. I struggle on my own to stay strong and moral. I hesitate to show kindness or extend charity. Without God’s Spirit producing His fruit in my life, my goodness is frail.

“Being good” is different from “doing good.” One is how we live and the other is how we live for others. Both of these are ingredients in the fruit of goodness.

Bring It Home

Are you seeing God’s fruit of goodness in your garden?

Praying for you as we grow together,

Smiles, BRC