August 7 Thought for the day...goodness, the heart of generosity

Goodness, what do you think of when you think someone or something is good? We generally with children, well-behaved with adults altruistic, benevolent, kind. When Paul listed it as part of the fruit of the Spirit, he meant so much more.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness..." Galatians 5:22

I want us to look at another scripture today that will help us to understand what "good" really means. Once again, bear in mind that this is a portion of the fruit of the Spirit and if you are filled with the Spirit, you should bearing this fruit in your life.

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil"  Acts 10:38.  In this verse, we see the phrase "doing good" Jesus healed, delivered, and did "good" everywhere. The word "good" means generous, big-hearted, charitable with finances, a giver. The word used in Acts 10 takes it a step further to mean a philanthropist (someone who generously donates finances for the blessing of others). The implication is that Jesus did have access to wealth, and he used that wealth to bless others.

It is important to understand that Jesus not only healed the sick and demonized, but he gave to them financially to help them get back on their feet. He gave us the example of how to properly care for the broken and downtrodden. He would take from the resources given to him to help meet the basic human needs as an active part of His ministry on earth. Jesus was not only a giver of healing, deliverance, and the words of life but also of financial help to turn a life around.

This verse and Paul's encouragement are all part of God's challenge to us to kill off our flesh and be generous with all the Lord has given us. Selflessness is a large part of exemplifying Christ. Money, wealth, and things can trap us and bless us in such a bondage. The Holy Spirit's encouragement is that as we walk in goodness, we walk in freedom from the stuff of this world and in the process we bring freedom to those in bondage by giving them a hand up rather than a handout!