Fruit Inventory, Part 2 of 3

In the book of Galatians, Paul is writing about the freedom we have in Christ and about how we should move from living “under the law” and into the freedom of what he calls living “by the Spirit.” Then he helps us to know whether we’re living by the Spirit by showing us what our lives will look like if we do so. Here’s the passage:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

This is what the life of a follower of Christ should look like. People ought to be able to look at our lives and know that we are followers of Christ because we have this fruit. People should know that the Holy Spirit is at work within us because he’s producing his fruit in us. 

Last week we looked at love, joy, and peace, so let’s look at the next three.

First up is patience. Patience is the ability to wait when God tells us to wait, rather than going out on our own. It’s the willingness to accept circumstances that irritate us. It’s the ability to put up with other people when it isn’t easy to do that. Patience refuses to yield to outbursts of anger (ouch) when people frustrate us. Does this describe you?

I’m the first one to admit that I don’t always exhibit great patience. Especially when I’m driving. I can’t understand why all the cars in front of me at a red light don’t go as soon as the light turns green. I mean, the light turns green, so we all ought to start moving, that’s what a green light means. But no, the drivers in front of me always feel the need to let the car in front of them get 3-4 car lengths ahead before they accelerate. I just don’t get it! And it always seems like the car in front of me waits just long enough so that they get to sneak through the light and I get caught when the light turns red. My steering wheel has dents in it from me banging on it when that happens.

God, though, is the perfect example of patience. If it weren’t for his patience with us, we wouldn’t have a relationship with him today.

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (Romans 2:4 NLT)

I know that it isn’t always easy for God to put up with me. But he’s so patient and kind to each of us. Plus, his patience with us isn’t just for our benefit. Listen to what Paul says to Timothy:

But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:16)

Look at that again! God had mercy on me so that other people can see his great patience! Then they can say, “Wow, if God has that kind of patience and love for Richard, maybe he’ll have that same patience and love for me.” 

God continues to be so patient with me and my failures. Lord, give me that kind of patience. Help me put up with disappointments and irritating circumstances and even people who would normally tax my patience. Keep me from outbursts of anger caused by losing my patience.

The next two characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit are kindness and goodness. 

I’m defining kindness here as “a tender-hearted concern for others.” Kindness is treating others even better than they treat us.

Goodness here has to do with showing generosity toward someone and going the second mile for someone, especially if they have been hurtful and unkind toward us. It means just what you think it means, it’s just being good to other people. 

Whatever happened to simple kindness? This is one of the reasons I have to minimize my time on social media. Even among believers, there are so many snarky, mean-spirited comments. I’ve seen it in discussions of the coronavirus, politics, theology, you name it. We attack each other without a second thought. Why can’t we just be kind to one another? 

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. (2 Timothy 2:24 NLT)

Just like in Romans 2:4 above, kindness and patience are tied together here. As believers, we are to be kind to everyone, and we’re supposed to be patient with difficult people. Once again, who is our example?

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:4-5)

It was God who first showed us goodness and kindness, and he did that when we were lost and considered him to be an enemy. How, then, can we not show goodness and kindness to others? 

I hope you can see what a huge impact you can make on the world around you if your life was an example of patience, kindness, and goodness. If you are just nice to others and patient with those who frustrate you, people around you will immediately notice this about you. You will stand out in an amazing way! They would actually be drawn to you, and you could then point them to Jesus. 

Is your life characterized by patience, kindness, and goodness? If not, would you be willing to ask God to produce patience, kindness, and goodness in you? Remember, you can’t manufacture this fruit on your own, but God longs to produce it in you. 

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