How the Fruit of the Spirit Could Impact Your Relationships

I live in the farm country of New Jersey. Our portion of the state is the reason that the most densely populated state in the Union still bears the name the Garden State. My bike rides  or evening runs take me past fruit orchards and vineyards. In the winter months the trees and vines appear lifeless; there’s no fruit to be found. In the spring, those same trees erupt with  blossoms. Acres of flowers: white for the apples and pink for the peaches. But, still no fruit. To be a farmer in this area requires great patience. You do all your work and then you wait. You dare not rush the fruit; you have to give it time to grow.

When God chose a metaphor for our spiritual growth he called it the Fruit of the Spirit.  It’s the perfect image. While we should anticipate growth in these areas of our life, we would not expect it to happen overnight. In a world that looks for quick fixes for relational problems, these nine words are worthy of our study. They are especially helpful  for you and me, when our relationships are difficult. They take away our excuse for a sinful response as a reaction to those who sin against us. For example, just because someone is impatient with us that does not necessitate our impatience in return. Likewise, for each of the words. They often take on greater clarity in the face of another’s wrong doing. Here is the passage along with some simple definitions.

But the fruit of the Spirit is  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23)

LOVE is your sacrificial choices of words accompanied by actions.

JOY is your predetermined attitude of praise unhindered by difficulty.

PEACE is you settled confidence of mind unaffected by circumstantial change.

PATIENCE is your willingness to remain under difficulty.

KINDNESS is your purposefully tender spirit with the undeserving.

GOODNESS is your active and generous involvement in the life of another.

FAITHFULNESS is your promise to keep your word and do your best.

GENTLENESS is your strength under control in order to show tenderness to others.

SELF-CONTROL is the crucifixion of your desire to please yourself, so that you might grow in your desire to glorify God.