As we have been covering our “divinely powerful weapons” that are also called the “fruit of the Spirit,” this week we continue with goodness and kindness. We will cover these together because they are so closely connected.
In Romans 12:21 we are told, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Our divinely powerful weapons are how we do this. We overcome every evil with the good that is the counter to it, as the verse before states: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty given him a drink. By doing this you will heap burning coals on his head.”
The “burning coals” speak of the mental anguish and conviction that comes upon those who have done evil to us when we don’t return evil to them as they expect, but rather good. This must be from our heart and a devotion to kindness to others in place of doing harm or seeing them punished.
It is noteworthy that the fruit of The Spirit is singular, not plural. There are not nine fruits of The Spirit, but one, with nine characteristics. They all work together and cannot be separated. For example, our goodness and kindness must be done in love, faith, and patience.… We have been commanded by Jesus to: “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28).
Perhaps the best definition for “goodness” and “kindness” is found in the rest of this statement as it is recorded in Matthew 5:44-46. Jesus explains why we should love our enemies and do good to them:
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”
So, our devotion to loving our enemies and doing good to them is so we can be like our Father in heaven. What higher calling could we possibly have than this? Is not the greatest demonstration of the goodness, kindness, and the love of God how Jesus died for the very ones who persecuted Him?
Goodness and kindness in response to evil may be the most dramatic example of this powerful weapon, but it does not always have to be in response to evil. It was said of The Lord in Acts 10:38: “He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” He went about looking for good to do every day. Is that our mindset as we go about our daily lives? It will be if we are abiding in Him.
In all things let us keep in mind 1 Timothy 1:5: “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” One of the great expressions of God’s love through us is through the goodness we do, especially when it is in response to evil done to us.
So, if we’re growing in the fruit of The Spirit, we will also be growing in goodness and kindness. As we walk abiding in The Lord, we will also go about looking for good to do for others, and always do it in The Spirit of kindness.
