Think About Goodness

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:16-23 NASB

Holy Spirit pours forth fruit of the spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Most are probably easy to define. But the fruit of kindness and the fruit of goodness seem so similar, it can be difficult to see a difference between the two.  

The Bible teaches them throughout Scripture and uses the two terms differently, actually let’s make time this week to discover more about each of these two fruits of Holy Spirit and pray for clarity so it will become clear that goodness is the foundation for kindness. 

Think of goodness as a state of being. 

Scripture teaches that God is Good. 

Goodness isn’t just something He has, it’s who He is.  

Since we’re re-created in His image, goodness is who we are, too. 

God’s goodness within us is what causes us to be kind. It produces kindness as its result. 

How do we grow the fruits of Holy Spirit? By spending time with Him.  The more we understand how good God is, the more our life will be rooted in His goodness.

Goodness is a change within that comes when we are born again and then transformed by the renewing of our mind by studying the Word of God. 

I look at Kindness as the action that comes from that place of goodness.

Psalms 107:5-9 NASB They were hungry and thirsty; Their soul fainted within them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses. He led them also by a straight way, To go to an inhabited city. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.

It’s the goodness of God that leads us, sinners, to repentance - it’s the goodness of God that is a lifeline that draws us out of the darkness and literally pulls us toward the light, removing the noise and teaching us the gift of kindness in how we treat others with ways of love, grace and mercy. 

It’s definitely food for thought, wondering with God’s perspective, we view life from our personal point of time, but God views us from His heavenly throne in the light of eternity. While we see ourselves as self-sufficient, self-important, and self-sustaining; God sees us as dependent, self-centered, and self-deceived. Our worldly wisdom tries to make made us calloused and hard and that doesn’t come from God!

James 3:14-17 NIV But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

And like goodness and kindness there is a difference between wisdom and knowledge. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. All truth is from God, whether it be scientific, psychological, philosophic, or religious. 

The truth in and of the Bible takes us all to the cross of Jesus Christ. It is there that we find an overwhelming forgiveness of sins and the solution to the dilemmas and problems that face us both nationally and individually. 

The wisdom of this world, encouraged by Satan, is cynical of the cross, puts “self” first, treats goodness as a weakness and kindness as a catch phrase. 

It is impossible for someone who does not know Jesus Christ as their Savior to understand how God, in His goodness, grace and mercy, can forgive sinners and transform lives. But He can and He does, and lives changed by Holy Spirit, lives walking with Jesus, become changed lives that can affect society for the glory of God’s kingdom and the salvation of others! That is amazing grace! What a purpose to live out! Being a piece of another persons salvation story!