Galatians 5 22 says the fruit of the spirit is
love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against
such there is no law. Love is the first fruit
we find in this list. Love is the sugar that
can be found in the rest of the fruit of the
spirit. It is the thing that makes the other
fruit sweet. The reason we love fruit more than
vegetables is because they are sweeter. We can
see this in 1 Corinthians 13, where Paul spends
quite a bit of time explaining what love is.
It is not good works. That is very clear. But
good works are a result of charity. He says,
though I speak with the tongues of men and of
angels and have not charity, I am become a sounding
brass or tinkling cymbal. He says it doesn't
matter what we say, doesn't matter if we say
we're filled with the spirit, if there isn't
love, it is superficial. And he says in verse
two, and though I have a the gift of prophecy
and understand all mysteries and all knowledge
and though I have all faith so that I could remove
mountains and have not charity I am nothing he
continues to explain it doesn't matter what giftings
we may have how spiritual we think we are because
of our spiritual knowledge if we don't have love
it amounts to nothing And though I bestow all
my goods to feed the poor, and though I give
my body to be burned and have not charity, it
profiteth me nothing. Works not motivated by
love gain us no points with the Lord. All our
actions must be motivated by love for God and
love for people. Paul continues to describe love,
what it does, what it is. And in that description,
we see the fruit of the spirit written about
in Galatians or to the church in Galatia. Love
or charity suffers long, long suffering or patience.
I feel like the King James word for patience,
long suffering, is a very apt description. of
patience. Love is kind. It comes from that same
root as gentleness in Galatians 5, which is useful.
The word kind and the word gentleness, the root
of both of them is useful. Kindness is to find
oneself to be useful, while gentleness is usefulness
that is moral excellence. The first example that
jumps to mind is if you are in a store and someone
drops something that spills everywhere. It is
useful to help them pick it up. It is kind to
stop and help them pick it up. Charity or love
does not envy. We see envy as a work of the flesh
in Galatians 5. Love does not brag or boast about
itself, is not puffed up or proud, We see this
reflected in the fruit of the spirit in meekness
which implies humbleness. Does not behave itself
unseemly. That word unseemly could also be said
disgracefully. Love does not behave itself disgracefully.
Again we see this reflected in the works of the
flesh. Things that are disgraceful are not going
to inherit the kingdom of God. Love seeks not
her own. Charity is not covetous. It's not self
-centered or greedy. Love is not easily provoked.
We see this in the fruit of temperance or self
-control. Love thinketh no evil. Strife, seditions,
heresies, envy are all tied to thinking evil
of others. Again, these are works of the flesh
listed in Galatians 5. Love does not rejoice
in iniquity. That is sin or impurity. It isn't
entertained by it. It doesn't enjoy it. It does
not bring joy to love. Love does rejoice in the
truth. Love and truth go hand -in -hand because
God is love and God is truth. Jesus said, I am
the way, the truth, and the life. Love bears
all things. I think of patience, self -control,
meekness, gentleness, peace, all -mentionness,
fruit of the spirit. All of these require bearing
things that are not always easy to endure. Love
hopes all things. It always has mercy. It always
has hope for every situation. Love endures all
things. How is this even possible? Do you ever
feel like you can endure no longer? Then love
says, hang on just a little bit longer. You can
do it. Charity or love never fails. Love is the
sweetness that is in all the other fruit. It
is the foundation that makes all the others worthwhile.
It's the oil in the engine, the things that makes
it all run smoothly and effectively without grinding
and jolting. Fruit is something to which people
are naturally drawn. Fruit shows the health of
the tree. A healthy tree produces firm, unblemished,
brightly colored fruit. An unhealthy tree brings
about small, hard, and even shriveled fruit.
The difference may not be noticeable from a distance,
but when you get closer, it becomes obvious.
Next time, we will continue to study more of
the fruit of the spirit.