“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
- Galatians 5:22-23
The world talks a lot about being “a good person” – good intentions, good vibes, do what feels good. But Biblical goodness is something much deeper, richer, and more transformative.
Goodness in Scripture isn’t just about being morally upright; it is a life shaped by God, directed toward others, and committed to doing what is right even when it is hard, unpopular, unnoticed, or costly. Goodness is the active expression of righteousness and truth. It is love in its moral and ethical form; it is love that acts in integrity.
The Greek word used in Galatians 5:22 is a word used rarely in Greek literature because it refers to goodness that is found only in God and produced by God. Biblical goodness includes moral integrity, uprightness of heart, a passion for righteousness and truth, generosity that reflects God’s heart, courage to stand for what is right, and compassion in action. Goodness is not passive but rather pushes back darkness and chooses righteousness, even at personal cost.
Before we can live out goodness, we must recognize that it comes from God. Psalm 107:1 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” God isn’t just good at times; He is goodness itself. His nature defines what is good, not culture, emotions, or personal preference.
Just like with the other fruit of the Spirit, we don’t practice goodness to earn God’s love. We practice goodness because we have experienced His goodness first.
Jesus was the embodiment of goodness on Earth. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, protected the vulnerable, spoke truth boldly, chose obedience over comfort, forgave those who accused and crucified Him, and sacrificed Himself to save us. His goodness wasn’t soft or sentimental; it was holy, courageous, and costly. It confronted sin while extending mercy and hope. To follow Jesus is to let His goodness reshape our hearts and actions.
Goodness matters in our world because we live in a time when moral lines are blurred, where values shift with opinion polls and personal desires. “Good” can be redefined to mean “whatever makes me happy.” But Scripture anchors us: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20). God’s goodness gives us moral clarity in a morally confused age. It reminds us there there is truth, and true standards of right and wrong do exist.
We don’t need dramatic moments to practice goodness; we need daily surrender and Spirit-led obedience. Goodness is part of our Christian witness, as our actions can point people to Christ or away from Him. Perhaps goodness looks like choosing honestly when a little white lie would be easier. It may look like standing up for someone being mistreated. It may look like being secretly generous without getting praised. It may look like being reliable and trustworthy. Goodness is seeing every interaction as a chance to reflect the goodness of God.
But, goodness isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it means saying no when you want to say yes, or speaking the truth in love when staying silent is more comfortable. Goodness means refusing to participate in harmful behavior. It means obeying God even when people misunderstand you. Goodness requires courage and conviction in being a follower of Jesus.
That may sound difficult, if not impossible, and it is – by human standards. But the Holy Spirit strengthens us to live lives that show others God’s goodness. We cannot bear this fruit on our own; it is the Spirit’s fruit, showing in our lives.
We can intentionally cultivate goodness by staying rooted in Scripture, because God’s Word is the true guide for what is good. We need to guard our hearts, as goodness flows from within; what we allow into our minds shapes our character. We need to practice integrity in small things because when we are faithful in little things, we will also be faithful in big things (Luke 16:10). We should ask God for help to purify our motives to reflect His goodness, and then seek accountability from those around us to continue living out God’s goodness.
Where have you experienced God’s goodness recently? Who in your life needs to see and feel the goodness of God through your actions?
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