Better Patience, Kindness, & Goodness

We are going through the fruit of the spirit in this series

Last week we looked through the first three, contrasted against the works of the flesh.

Love, Joy, & Peace

Given these are fruit, like something that comes from a tree, we explored these in light of how you need to care for something that grows. The soil, seed, water, sunlight, etc., are important. But so is protecting the tree from pests and predators.

These concepts are not too far fetched for us to follow, at first glance…

Love: God is love, that one is pretty straightforward

Joy: Joy to the world, that is easy.

God takes joy in me? That might be a bit more difficult to believe.

Peace on earth: Again, that seems easy

Peace between me and God? Again, might be difficult to believe.

Why would we review these this morning?

Our next three are related to the first three.

Galatians 5:22–24 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Love, Joy, & Peace are directly related to Patience, Kindness, and Goodness.

The passage said at most weddings confirms a link to the first two:

1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant”

When you spend some time thinking about this, there is a bit of a 1:2 relationship going on.

Love: Patient & Kind

Joy: Goodness & Faithfulness

Peace: Gentleness & Self-control

Patience:

The word is common in Jewish Greek writings. It is used in the Greek version of the Old Testament as well.

Most common meaning: steadfastness, longsuffering, in the face of persecution or provocation.

Adjectively, patience is a term used of God and Jesus:

1 Timothy 1:16 “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”

2 Peter 3:15 “And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,”

But, its MOST COMMON use is:

Patient endurance of WRONG without ANGER or VENGEANCE

Ephesians 4:1–2 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,”

2 Timothy 4:2 “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

It is paired with faith in regards to believing salvation:

Hebrews 6:12 “so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

And like other fruit, it is meant for OTHERS:

1 Thessalonians 5:14 “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”

Kindness:

In light of most Greek authors, the term would be used to describe excellence when referring to THINGS.

But when referring to persons it would mean, goodness, honestly, or kindness

This is an attribute of God

Titus 3:4 “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,”

When Paul wrote about the kindness and severity of God, he wrote that kindness is so important to God that it can affect your place in the ‘tree.’

Romans 11:22 “Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.”

Goodness:

The noun form of this is not found in classical writings, or even among other Jewish writings.

Often, it is a synonym for kindness.

Only appears four times in the NT, all from the apostle Paul.

So, we are going to look at its use as an adjective

Luke 8:15 “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Romans 12:9 “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.”

Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

The concept of Good is something that can be seen and acknowledged by others:

Acts 9:36 “Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.”

Galatians 6:10 “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

****TRANSITION

Love, Joy, & Peace

These we often internalize as something that God shows us or gives us.

Even though we saw last week that fruit are made for others to consume, not for the tree to eat.

Patience, Kindness, & Goodness

We don’t necessarily see these as coming from God to us.

And, they are not really emotions, like the others are often categorized.

As something that comes from God, Kindness and Goodness, even Patience

Are subjective to our current situation.

These are clearly actions, and they require at least two parties.

Moreover, patience requires something that is testing your temper

Kindness is testing your vengeance

Goodness is testing your generosity

But, consider how you may be a test for others.

Do you create opportunities for others to have patience?

Do you create opportunities for others to have kindness?

Do you create opportunities for others to have goodness?