Traits of the Spirit – Controlled Life: Goodness

Traits of the Spirit – Controlled Life: Goodness

Introduction:

If I were to ask you, “are you a good person?” What would you answer? In your own mind, what is a good person? What would you include in the list of qualities that qualify a person to be “good”?

In , the apostle Paul says that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness…” This means that the 9 fruit of the spirit will be exemplified in the life of the believer who is living under the constant control of the Holy Spirit. Goodness is 1 of those 9.

In our text, we find a clear picture of “goodness.” The apostle uses comparison and contrast to show us true goodness.

I- What goodness is not: ().

A- malevolent ()

1- The thieves in this story were willing to harm the man in order to gain personally.

gain personally.

a- Anyone who is willing to harm others for personal gain is not good.

good.

b- There are many ways that we can harm other people.

1) Monetary theft

2) Physical harm

2- The thieves wounded the man

a- It is possible to wound a person without doing so physically.

1) You can wound an individual with sharp words.

2) You can wound a person with malicious words spoken

about them.

3) You can wound a person through your inconsistent behavior – (being a stumbling block).

behavior – (being a stumbling block).

3- The thieves departed, leaving the man to fend for himself, when he was unable to do so.

was unable to do so.

a- Goodness will not allow the believer to leave a wounded person to “sink or swim.”

person to “sink or swim.”

1) It always seeks to reclaim and nurture those in need.

B- Indifferent ()

1- The priest and the Levite were both indifferent to the needs of the wounded man.

wounded man.

a- The priest was seen as ministers of God – and therefore as good men.

therefore as good men.

1) He was charged with leading instructing God’s people from God’s word on how to live in a way that would please God.

from God’s word on how to live in a way that would

please God.

2) He was guilty of failing to live out what he preached.

preached.

b- The Levites were charged with leadership through support ministry in the temple.

ministry in the temple.

1) In New Testament church terminology, the equivalent of the Levite would be a deacon, teacher, or other major leader in the church.

of the Levite would be a deacon, teacher, or other

major leader in the church.

2) The Levite refused to get involved with helping the man.

man.

(a) Probably thought “it is none of my business.”

2- Indifference is never a Spirit-led response.

a- God is never indifferent to our plight.

b- The Holy Spirit is God.

c- If the Holy Spirit is in control of our lives, he will urge unto respond to the needs of people around us.

respond to the needs of people around us.

d- Choosing to adopt an indifferent attitude toward those who are hurting means that we are in rebellion against God and are rejecting the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit.

are hurting means that we are in rebellion against God and

are rejecting the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit.

II- What goodness is: ().

A- Positionally independent

1- Goodness is not dependent upon a person’s station in life.

a- One does not have to be a preacher, deacon, or teacher exercise goodness.

goodness.

b- Notice that it is a Samaritan who shows goodness in this passage of Scripture.

passage of Scripture.

2- The only requirements for goodness our salvation and the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit.

controlling influence of the Holy Spirit.

B- Presently observant (verse 33)

1- The Samaritan did not set up a “mission trip” in order to demonstrate his goodness.

demonstrate his goodness.

2- The practice of spiritual traits such as goodness did not come from a planned effort, but continual yieldedness.

a planned effort, but continual yieldedness.

3- Demonstrating goodness comes from an overflow and outflow of the Holy Spirit’s presence and control.

the Holy Spirit’s presence and control.

C- Personally empathetic (verse 34)

1- The Samaritan was “moved” with “compassion.”

a- Compassion is love that is aroused by necessity and need.

1) Jesus “loved” the rich young ruler – had compassion for his need.

for his need.

b- True compassion moves us into action.

1) True compassion is not present unless it moves us into action.

action.

D- Practically active (verse 34a)

1- Unlike the priest and the Levite, the Samaritans empathy prompted him into action.

him into action.

a- The Samaritan gave of his own time to help the man.

2- Many times, people need our personal involvement more than they need our money!

need our money!

a- sometimes we give money to salve our consciences for failure to share the investment of our lives.

failure to share the investment of our lives.

E- Altruistically unselfish (verse 34b-35)

1- The Samaritan was unselfish – gave up his own ride to town.

2- The Samaritan was unselfish. – Gave up his own rest to minister to the needs of the injured man.

to the needs of the injured man.

3- The Samaritan was unselfish paid the innkeeper for the room and board, and care taking of the injured man.

board, and care taking of the injured man.

a- The Samaritan gave the innkeeper the equivalent of 2 days wages, with a promise to repay what ever was required for the injured man’s care.

wages, with a promise to repay what ever was required for

the injured man’s care.

b- In today’s terms, it would be the equivalent of giving the innkeeper approximately $350 (based on the average income in the US), with the open – ended promise to repay whatever was used in caring for the injured man.

innkeeper approximately $350 (based on the average income

in the US), with the open – ended promise to repay whatever

was used in caring for the injured man.

4- Goodness is not concerned with personal convenience or comfort.

a- If you and I are primarily concerned with our own comfort and convenience, we are not living out the trait of goodness.

and convenience, we are not living out the trait of goodness.

Conclusion:

Notice the last two verses – they ask a question and give a command.

What is your answer to the question?

What is your response to His command?