The fruit of the Spirit, as mentioned, in Galatians, is amazing. Paul masterfully compares the fruit of the Spirit to some of our worst attributes in the works of the flesh. Fruit is developed. It takes time to develop mature fruit. We are in a constant battle against our sinful nature and fruit development is neither easy nor fast.
Thankfully, God refuses to give up on us even when we give up on ourselves.
The Fruit Of The Spirit Bible Verse
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
The fruit of the Spirit touches every area of our lives.
Have you ever considered the financial implications of these nine? If not, let’s do some digging together.
The Fruit of the Spirit — Love
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
I Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
I John 2:15-16 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father but is from the world.
The Fruit of the Spirit — Joy
Psalm 35:27 (NKJV) Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
Deuteronomy 28:47-48 Since you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a cheerful heart, in gratitude for the abundance of all things, you will serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, thirst, nakedness, and devoid of all things. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
The Fruit of The Spirit — Peace
Biblically, peace reflects the idea of wholeness, completeness, success, fulfillment, harmony, security, and well-being (Encyclopedia.com).
Psalm 37:11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.
Proverbs 17:1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.
Psalm 122:7 May peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces.
The Fruit of the Spirit — Patience
Patience, from a biblical perspective, can be defined as the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or cave into the pressures of life. Here is an article about patience that would benefit you.
Hebrews 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
James 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
The Fruit of the Spirit — Kindness
Ruth 3:10 The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.
2 Samuel 9:7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
The story of David and Mephibosheth is a must-read. It’s a great illustration of covenant life.
Job 6:14 Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
The Fruit of the Spirit — Goodness
Goodness is not passive. It’s a deliberate decision to follow God’s word. We can express the goodness of God through fearless generosity. God is in the blessing business. We must be about our Father’s business.
Nehemiah 9:25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land and took possession of well-supplied houses, cisterns cut out of rock, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. They ate, were filled, became prosperous, and delighted in your great goodness.
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Psalm 65:11 You crown the year with Your goodness and Your paths drip with abundance.
The Fruit of the Spirit — Faithfulness
Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
The Parable of the Dishonest Manager (Luke 16:1-15) is my favorite parable.
Luke 16:10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
Luke 16:11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
The Fruit of the Spirit — Gentleness
Gentleness is often translated as meekness. Meekness is a misunderstood word. A meek person is not a doormat. The person who practices meekness is under full control. They have their power under wraps, so to speak.
Jesus displayed meekness in the Garden of Gethsemane. He could have easily destroyed the entire Roman army but chose not to do so.
Financially, a gentle or meek person does not abuse or mistreat others. They treat others with kindness and submit their financial power to Christ.
Proverbs 19:22 What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar.
Colossians 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
2 Peter 1:5-7 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
The Fruit of the Spirit — Self-Control
The majority of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Many are not prepared for retirement. The majority of families are unable to cash flow a $1,000 emergency. There are many reasons why so many living in the land of abundance are struggling financially.
One of the reasons is a lack of self-control. We’ve bought into FOMO and YOLO and many other bumper sticker philosophies. Thankfully, God has not given up on us.
Proverbs 25:28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
I Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
God has given us the spirit of self-control. It’s in our heart and it’s in our minds. He has empowered us to overcome temptations. We can do it!