The Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness

by Dennis Tucker

I remember my grandparents telling me to be good on numerous occasions. While they never took the time to define the word "good", I knew they meant me to mind my parents. Good can mean to stay out of trouble and do what you are told. The word means to not do evil and to be doing that which is right. The word GOODNESS, as used in Galatians 5:22, means to be beneficial, useful. It is not to be confused with laziness nor going along with the crowd to avoid any trouble. It may be necessary to hurt some feelings or at least step on some toes in order to be good. Let us study the examples of goodness given in the Bible.

On one occasion, Jesus taught that we are to love God first and our neighbor second. The question arose, "Who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29) In answering that question, Jesus tells us about a Samaritan who was good. The Samaritan came upon a man, his neighbor, who had been robbed and left for dead, other who had first seen the unfortunate man passed by on the other side of the road. "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him." (Luke 10:33-34) Not only did he have compassion but also he actually helped the unfortunate man. Kindness as studied a couple of weeks ago means to have compassion, but the word goodness means to DO GOOD. How much are you actually doing in service to God? It seems that most people are talking a good game of religion but actually do little. We want the easiest religion possible, which demands little and gives back to us much more. If we are good, we will do anything and everything that we can to serve God. That includes helping others. "Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another." (Romans 15:14) Even among Christians, this quality seems to be lacking. We want short sermons and fewer gospel meetings. Let somebody else teach, lead in singing, wait on the Lord's Table, and greet the visitors.

Rebuking sin is another part of goodness. False teachers are often allowed to continue their doctrine because no one wants to be "unchrist like" by telling people they are wrong and lost. Is it more Christ like to allow false religion to be taught and practiced with out saying a word or to publicly and privately condemn the false religion? Which did Jesus do? "Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, 'It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.'" (Matthew 21:12-13) There was not a time that Jesus overlooked a perversion of God's Law. He always withstood the false practice. The apostles under the influence of the Holy Spirit also condemned sin of any kind. Even when the sin occurred among so called faithful brethren. "But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, 'If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of the Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as Jews?'" (Galatians 2:14) To allow sin is not doing good. To be good we must have the backbone to teach the truth and be active in doing so.

Consider the man Jehoiada. "But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old when he died. And they buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and His house." (2 Chronicles 24:15-16) who was Jehoiada and what did he do? He was the priest (verse 2); he was instrumental in helping King Joash restore the temple worship. "And the offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada." (2 Chronicles 24:14b) The lesson is simple. Goodness is obeying God's law by studying and applying it in our service to God. As we give ourselves over to doing good, evil will be conquered. "Let love be without hypocrisy, abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." (Romans 12:9) Too many people want to be passive or serve God by proxy instead of doing good. How about you? Are you active in your service to God? Are you studying your Bible? "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the word of faith with power." (2 Thessalonians 1:11)