… bearing fruit in every good work …
Summary: Living in two worlds can be confusing if we don’t know there is a difference between our inner world and the outer world.
In his letter to the churches in Galatia, Paul writes:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
And then he adds this interesting clarification: “Against such things there is no law.” (Ibid)
Why?
Why would Paul add this follow-up statement to his description of the Spirit’s fruit? The answer has to do with where the fruit is found.
People are complex creatures. We live in two worlds simultaneously. Sometimes, it is hard to tell the difference between the two.
One world is our inner self. We can be standing still in a crowded room and experience thoughts and feelings that no one else is aware of. Anger, frustration, and pain can fill a person while everyone else is oblivious to what is happening. Spiritual battles often play out in this space.
The other world is the physical world we live in. This world includes the words we say and the things we do. There are laws that govern our actions in this world, but in our inner world, there are no laws.
When Paul talks about the “fruit of the Spirit,” everything he lists can be applied to our inner world. Love, joy, peace, and patience all describe feelings we experience privately. Self-control describes the authority of our inner world to control what we do in the outside world.
Kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness are a little bit different. These “fruits” can describe attitudes of the mind and heart, but they can also describe actions. When Paul writes, “bearing fruit in every good work,” he is talking about the actions we take in the outside world.
Things get complicated in the outside world.
Sometimes, when we do something we intend to be a kindness, people are offended. Sometimes goodness is seen as being intrusive, and faithfulness is seen as being inflexible. Even gentleness can be misinterpreted as weakness or fear.
The world doesn’t appreciate God’s values. Yet the world is a mix of people, some godly and some ungodly (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43). The godly appreciate the good and the kind, even if the ungodly do not.
“Every good work” is a mixture of inner and outer actions. As the “fruit of the Spirit” grows in our inner world, we start to see a different kind of fruit in “every good work” we do in the outer world.
Application: Lean into Jesus in everything you think and do.
Food for Thought: How does the fruit of the Spirit respond to ungodly reactions to good works?
If we are doing our good works unto the Lord, then the response of the world to those works shouldn’t matter. If what we do we do for the glory of God, man’s approval will fade into meaninglessness.
1 Corinthians 10:31: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Thank you, Rich!
I agree in principle. In practice, ignoring social feedback can be very challenging. The power of the Holy Spirit certainly helps!
Excellent Rich!
How does the fruit of the Spirit respond to ungodly reactions to good works?
John 16:8, And He, when He comes, will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment:
The world is being convicted by the Holy Spirit and will one day stand before God who will open the hearts of all, and each will receive according to their acts and knowledge.
Our calling from God is to allow Christ to be seen in all circumstances. Believers are blessed to have salvation secured and must focus on allowing the Love of Christ be seen by others irregardless of their positions. This could be walk away, but will never include entering into an argument with anyone who has rejected God’s revelation and disagrees with the truths being revealed through us.
Romans 12:17, Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
1 Thessalonians 5:15, See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
Matthew 5:39, But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
Matthew 10:14, If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.
Thanks Ron!
The conviction of the Holy Spirit is a marvelous tonic for keeping us on the right path.
How does the fruit of the Spirit respond to ungodly reactions to good works?
Something plaguing me recently is the pressure to do something I believe wrong or evil (although perhaps not explicitly stated by scripture). However, the fruit of the Spirit may inform the how of your actions, but the actions must still be in alightment with God and your conscience. I only add conscience since we know that doing something we know is wrong makes it sin since we are willingly doing something we believe is not God’s will or out of line with His heart. (Otherwise, what do my feelings have to do with it?)
Therefore, the response in the language of the fruit of the Spirit is: To joyfully continue what is right, as it is faithful and good; To lovingly and gently inform the dissenting party that you cannot do what is not good. To bear their frustration with longsuffering, continuing to be kind despite whatever they do, refraining from all the ideas that make you laugh in the worst way. Rather, let the peace of God reign inside of you in spite of your circumstance.
Easier said than done.
Angela,
Amen! Well said!
I was just reading Mark 4: 10-20 where Jesus is explaining the parable of the seeds. He describes the seeds that fall among the thorns as the world “chok[ing] the word, making it unfruitful” (vs 19).
As you point out, the world is not our friend. And relying on God sometimes requires longsuffering. And yes, I agree: Easier said than done. 🙂