But the fruit of the Spirit is … love …
Summary: Paul begins describing how the Spirit of God changes us by describing those changes as “fruit.”
Seven years ago, I bought a fruit tree and planted it in my backyard. It didn’t look like a tree when I planted it. It looked more like an upside-down lollipop. (It was a stick with a big ball at one end.) After it was planted and watered, it just sat there and did nothing. I found myself wondering if it would ever grow any fruit.
In the spring, the “stick” had little branches growing out of it and little leaves showing. It even had a few tiny blossoms appear on the tiny branches. I could begin to see growth.
Within a few short years, I had to prune a few branches every year. I discovered my little tree was good at growing fruit. If I hadn’t known what kind of tree it was when I bought it, I certainly would by now. The fruit that grew on the tree was wonderfully tart apples that are marvelous for making pies or apple sauce.
The fruit of the tree tells us what kind of tree it is. The quality of the fruit reveals the quality of the tree.
In Paul’s metaphor, the believer filled with God’s Spirit becomes a tree that bears good fruit. The Spirit defines the kind of tree we become, and the fruit we bring forth bears testimony to the Spirit in us.
The first fruit of the Spirit Paul mentions is love.
When it comes to “love,” there are two general types. One kind is all about self-gratification (e.g. — “I love bananas!,” or “I love how you make me feel.”) The other kind of love is selfless. It is a love that is more concerned about others than self (e.g. — “He helps the homeless every weekend because he has a deep love for the needy.”)
The love Paul is talking about is the same love Jesus speaks of when he teaches us about the greatest commandments:
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22: 37-39)
Application: Look for fruit to appear in unlikely places.
Food for Thought: Why does the kind of love matter when we read about the fruits of the Spirit?
Why does the kind of love matter when we read about the fruits of the Spirit?
I’m told it matters a lot, and my wife is still trying to teach me about love so I can’t wait to read her comment.
🙂
You are a wise man!
Why does the kind of love matter when we read about the fruits of the Spirit?
I think this is a very relevant question. God is love and the love of God is an absolutely essential foundation to receiving the gifts of the Spirit. Any other type of love falls short of the glory of God.
I can think of one type of deceptive love in the world, this “mantra, concept, fortification” of “respect yourself, love yourself, take care of yourself.” I think some well-intentioned people follow this idea, but the problem is it is usually in response to past trespasses, a person taking “back” what was “taken from them,” and a non-reliance of the love of God. This is a self-serving love in a “noble” wrapper. It leads to placing oneself above God and others. This type of love does not produce the fruit of the Spirit. A follower of Christ will find peace regarding these things within Christ. Not in resolute declaration, but in redemption and sanctification. The fruit of the Spirit is not something we “display,” it is something that lives within us.
I think here is a good passage that describes one who follows the idea of placing themselves first:
2 Timothy 3:3-7 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
Chris,
Pointing out that “God is love” really brings this topic home!