I started the year off by suggesting that it would be a great thing to focus on pursuing the growth of the qualities known as the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24) in our lives.
Let's consider three qualities that are very connected, ...goodness, kindness, and gentleness.... Galatians 5:23.
First of all, goodness is that quality of being good like fertile ground that grows good crops. This idea of good encompasses a lot of ideas such as being honorable, being morally upright, and one who generously benefits others. Everyone wants to be married to a person who is good and I doubt if anyone wants to be married to someone who is bad. While we might all consider ourselves to be "good," we all certainly have room to grow in this area. In Proverbs 31, the famous Godly wife is praised because she brings her husband good and never any harm. What a reputation for all of us, men and women alike to aspire to! What good thing can we add to our mate's life today?
This idea of growing in goodness includes the concept of doing what is best and beneficial for those around us which might not always be pleasant or create happy feelings. Sometimes, we need to encourage our mate to do what is best, right, and good even when the choice is difficult or painful. Jesus often spoke difficult things to the people around Him that were for their good, but were not necessarily the easiest things to hear. Sometimes, the presence of goodness points us in the right direction when all we really want is to be kept comfortable. In Acts 5:1-11, we see that Annanias and Sapphira failed to benefit each other with this quality of goodness when they planned to lie to the church and to the Lord. If only one of them had poured out enough goodness to abort the deceptive plan they would have avoided a terrible family calamity.
This is where the other two qualities link together with goodness. The NIV uses the word "gentleness" and the King James uses the word "meekness" to express the quality described by the original Greek word, praus, which really does not have an English equivalent. Where gentleness and meekness can be viewed as qualities of weakness, praus is a quality of strength. It is a word used of Jesus who had all power yet trusted Himself into the providence of God as He ministered to people and yielded Himself to the cross. It is a quality that is the opposite of self assertion and self interest. It is a quality that allows a person to be a fountain of goodness to others because there is no desire to assert self. As we pursue goodness, may we be untainted by self interest and self assertion and may we embrace the other related quality of kindness.
Kindness is really associated with treating others the way we would want to be treated. A kind person is comforting. A kind person is helpful. A kind person chooses their words carefully. A kind person observes the needs of those around him/her and springs into action.
When we examine the story Jesus told of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37 we see a man of goodness who was motivated by kindness to use the strength of his resources to help someone in need with no self interest or self assertiveness. That pretty well sums up how these qualities work together. My hope is that you will choose to join me as I seek to grow in these qualities ...most especially, let's demonstrate these qualities to our mate and children!
Resolve to grow in Goodness, Gentleness, and Kindness!
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