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Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness & Goodness (Galatians 5:22-23)

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MOTIVATE

According to Greek mythology[1], the god Zeus wanted to know how the citizens were of different cities. So, Zeus and his companion, Hermes, dressed as ordinary peasants traveling to various cities, wandering door to door, asking for food and a place to rest. At every house they were treated rudely, and doors were slammed in their faces.

At last, they came to the poorest hut and were greeted by a older man named Philemon and his wife, Baukis. The couple welcomed them warmly and invited them in. They gave them seats by the fire and hurried to make them a meal. Although the couple had only diluted wine to offer, they eagerly refilled their guests’ cups as soon as they were empty.

Because of the couple’s kind and generous hospitality, Zeus rewarded them richly, and they never again lacked food or fortune.

Although the story is myth, the ancient principle it teaches is quite biblical: we should treat all people with kindness and goodness.

Today’s spiritual fruit are combined: kindness and goodness. These words are essentially synonymous, often used together, and reflect each other. Kindness is the outward expression of goodness, which is the internal nature; goodness is the heart and kindness are the hands and feet. Expressed another way: goodness without kindness is meaningless; it’s like a noisy gong or clanging cymbal! 

Kindness is the outward expression of goodness, which is the internal nature; goodness is the heart and kindness are the hands and feet. Expressed another way: goodness without kindness is meaningless; it’s like a noisy gong or clanging cymbal! 

So, we look at twin fruit of the Spirit…

EXAMINE    Kindness & Goodness         Galatians 5:22    

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Biblical Definitions

  •  חֵסֵד chesed = kindness or lovingkindness (appears ~250x in OT)[2]: the outward actions of compassion and commitment. It’s often used to describe the character of God and how He relates toward His people (Gen 39:21; Ex 15:13 “You have led in your steadfast love/kindness the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy habitat”; etc.), but also expressly used about marriage (Ruth 2:20 with Boaz), and also for the expectations upon the LORD’s people on earth (Micah 6:8 “what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” /  Zech 7:9 “Thus says the LORD: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart”).

  • טוֹב = tov: goodness, beauty, excellence (appears over 525x in OT).[3]
    •  1Chron 16:34 “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever.”
  • χρηστός = chrestos / chrestotes: kind, goodness, graciousness, generosity (appears about 20x in NT).[4] Kindness is not only an attribute of God (Titus 3:4), but a characteristic of true love (1Cor 13:4), which God’s people must not refuse to dispense it to others (Ro 15:2; Eph 4:32); – bc at the judgment of Christ, He will reward those who have sown kindness to others (Mt 5:7; 25:34-36).
  • ἀγαθός = agathos: good, generous (appears over 100x).[5]Inherently, God alone is good (Mk 10:18) with His gifts
    (Ja 1:17), and the way He shapes circumstances (Ro 8:28). Yet, God also has saved His people unto good works (Ep 2:10; Col 1:10).
    •  Ja 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
    •  Eph 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

There’s an episode in the Bible where a man approaches Jesus and asks, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Then Jesus asks, “Why do you call me good? Why ask ME about what is good? No one is good except God alone (Mk 10:17; Mt 19:17).

This passage provides the framework for understanding goodness & kindness.

  • There is no good/kind person, not one (Ro 3:10-11). The man approaching Jesus believed he was a good person. He thought he kept the commandments and was relatively moral. This is like m-o-s-t people, but they’re wrong! Like politicians and New York Yankee fans, we think more highly of ourselves than we ought! My point is that God doesn’t grade goodness on a curve; “for whoever fails on one point has become accountable for all sin” (James 2:10). We’re all equally undeserving sinners.
  • God is the paradigm of all good.
    • God is holy – wholly other; w/o sin, flaw, or failure (1Sam 2:2)
    • He is perfect by every standard or criteria, and without partiality
    • He is infinite, ageless and unchanging appeal (Isa 40:28)
    • Unparalleled strength and beauty are in His temple (Ps 96:6),
    • He’s incomparably wise (Ro 11:33-34; 16:27),
  • Jesus is good – – – thus, Jesus is God.
    •  He incarnated flesh without a hereditary sin nature. 
    • He was sent to unselfishly love and graciously serve. 
    • He was sent as a ransom and sacrificial offering of death in the place of sinners. 
    • He who knew no sin, became sin so that in Him, we can become forgiven and free (2Cor 5:21; 8:9)
    • He accepted worship, cured the sick, healed the disabled, freed the captive, and raised dead – including overcoming His own grave.
    • Jesus gave/sent the Holy Spirit to all followers to comfort with peace, guide our path, and reassure us in life’s pressure moments.

God’s goodness and kindness are lavished on us in His varied acts in creation, redemption, and His ongoing gifts and promises.[6]

While this introduction has not been exhaustive, hopefully, this has established the biblical precedence of kindness and goodness, both from God and that we should exercise toward one another.

Yet, kindness has come under opposition. Some influencers have said that “being nice is not the eleventh commandment.” Attempting to be fair, what they mean (I believe) is that having theological and moral convictions creates a zeal for truth that should not be less than the passion and desires from the world on their contrary values. Indeed, it is a shame to see groups enthusiastic and deeply committed for lesser priorities than the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and His kingdom.

Yet, while I agree with this intent, I do think some Christians have substituted godly fervor for unjustified forcefulness, and this should not be. Human anger, mocking criticism, and condescending tone does not produce the righteousness of God (cf Ja 1:20).

Having theological and moral convictions creates a zeal for truth that should not be less than the passion and desires from the world on their contrary values. Yet, some Christians have substituted godly fervor for unjustified forcefulness, and this should not be. Human anger, mocking criticism, and condescending tone does not produce the righteousness of God.

YES

  • Elijah mocks false prophets (1Ki 18:27-29)
  • Ezekiel mocks a prideful prince (Ez 28:9)
  • God mocks Job and friends philosophy (Job 38-42)
  • Psalmist mocks idol worship (115:4-8)
  • Jesus challenged status quo faith (Mt 5-7)
  • Jesus critiqued & combatted false teaching (Mt 23)
  • Jesus confronted & checked wrongdoing (Jn 4; 8:1-11)
  • Paul mocked Judaizers promoting legalistic obedience to religious rules in contrast to a grace-centered gospel (Gal 5:12)

Sometimes mockery makes you laugh, and other times it lacerates. Christian speech is to be more like a scalpel cutting away flesh to bring healing, not recklessly wielding a sword. So, if our speech injures the soul of another person to merely look good winning an argument, then we have mistaken biblical apologetics (1 Pet 3:15 “making a defense for the hope in Christ with gentleness and respect”). Spiritual satire is only to be used to refute error and inspire increased conversation, not shut people down or out. Otherwise, we’re not keeping in step and exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit.[7]

In sum, the popular phrasing “just be kind” is incomplete. Too often today worldly kindness expects us to contrast our faith. We are to 1) be kind 2) AND uphold goodness. So, biblical Christians must be secure in their identity that we cannot please everyone. Sometimes we must disappoint people to please God. So, if we must choose whom to offend, never offend God.
 

APPLY/TAKEAWAY

How do we cultivate kindness and goodness?

Spend time with models more than mirrors.

It was referenced before, but many people think of themselves more highly than they should. The reason is often because they seek to be served more than serve. Jesus said that greatness was the opposite: whoever must be first must serve all, for the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Mk 10:45).

So, if we’re going to grow in serving others we need to spend time in community. And when we spend time in the right community, we discover positive peers and instrumental mentors in our life. The contrast is true too – bad company corrupts good character (1Cor 15:33). Negative influences spoil positive intentions.

  • Next steps @spbcmd
  • Join a group
  • Recruit or Be a discipler or mentor in whatever you do: faith, family, skills, ministry, life…

1Tim 6:18 “I charge you not to be haughty, not to set hope in the uncertainty of riches, but on God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. Do good; be rich in good works; with generosity be ready to share, thus storing up treasure as a foundation for the future and take hold of true life”

Heb 10:24 “let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near”

Move beyond human niceness to spiritual newness.

As we’ve noted throughout this series, we cannot pick and choose which fruit we are comfortable:

  • A good measure of love
  • Extra helping of joy
  • A heaping amount of peace
  • Hold the patience  
  • Skip the kindness – but give my portion to my spouse / neighbor / coworker.
  • One slice of goodness; we like to live on the wild side.

The fruit of the Spirit doesn’t work like that. God wants us to cultivate each one – they’re singularly and simultaneously working. And we cannot do cultivate this on our own – we need God’s salvation and the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:4-5 “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.”

God didn’t save us to be nice but to be new [regenerated] by His Spirit. So, surrender your heart, hands, and feet to Jesus, and let Him work through you so we can devote ourselves to good works – excellent and profitable for others; avoiding foolish controversies, dissensions, quarrels, and division (Titus 3:8-9).

[1] Adapted from Phyllis J. LePeau et al., Fruit of the Spirit: 48 Bible Studies for Individuals or Groups (Nashville, TN: HarperChristian Resources, 2013).

[2] https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2617.htm

[3] https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2896.htm

[4] https://biblehub.com/greek/5544.htm

[5] https://biblehub.com/greek/18.htm

[6] Chad Brand et al., eds., “Good,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 669.

[7] For more on this, see: https://www.equip.org/articles/mockery-in-apologetics/

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