Articles
The Fruit of the Spirit - Goodness
The Fruit of the Spirit - Goodness
Mike Willis
The sixth fruit of the Spirit is “goodness.” The Greek word agathōsunē means the “positive moral quality characterized especially by interest in the welfare of others”; in Galatians 5:22, it is defined as “generosity” (BDAG, 4). Louw-Nida define the word similarly: “the act of generous giving, with the implication of its relationship to goodness—‘to be generous, generosity’ ” (569). The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says that this word “indicates the quality which a man has who is agathos (the Greek word for “good,” mw) and therefore moral excellence as well as goodness” (1:18).
To illustrate this virtue in a concrete situation, look at the Christian woman Tabitha (or Dorcas). Acts 9 records her death:
Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive (9:36-41).
To put a masculine face on “goodness,” look at Barnabas.
There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. . . .And when he (Saul) had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. . . . And the hand of the Lord was with them (the brethren at Antioch of Syria), and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord (Acts 4:34-37; 9:26-28; 11:21-24).
These two characters in the book of Acts give us concrete examples of what “goodness” looks like. There are other examples that could be cited (such as the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37). The wealthy Shunammite woman who appreciated Elisha was a good and kind woman mentioned in the Old Testament.
One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there” (2 Kings 4:8-10).
God redeems and purifies His saints so that they might be zealous of good works (Tit. 2:14), so they should be ready for every good work (Tit. 3:1) and be a people who devote themselves to good works (Tit. 3:8). One is most likely to find those who have allowed the fruit of Spirit (goodness) to grow in their hearts to be the ones who are busy in doing good works.
I preached a meeting in Gulfport, MS along the Gulf Coast sometime between 1977 and 1982. The preacher I was staying with told me why we had been invited to eat dinner at the house of the particular church member we were going to that evening. He mentioned the name of another good sister in the neighbor who had heard that a family a couple of blocks from her was struggling. She went to the grocery store and bought some groceries and knocked on the neighbor’s door and said, “I just heard you were going through a rough time and wanted to be sure you had plenty to eat.” The woman of the house accepted the bag of groceries and thanked her neighbor. The Christian lady replied, “I go to the local church of Christ and would like to invite you to come to our services.” A few days or weeks later, the woman visited their services. Eventually the preacher set up a Bible class with her and she obeyed the gospel. The local preacher said to me, “Tonight we are eating with the woman who received that bag of groceries.” We had a lovely meal, although I can’t remember anything about what we ate. It was an evening I have never forgotten.
Acts of goodness lead to good things.
