In what way is love a fruit of the Holy Spirit? from Compelling Truth
Philippians 2:13 points out a spiritual truth that we too often forget: “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Obedience, maturity, and successful ministry are only possible when we allow God to work through us. This truth needs to be kept in mind when contemplating the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. The “fruit”—or end results of work—is of the Spirit. It is not of our own effort.
First on the list of the Spirit’s work in a believer’s life is “love.” This is not the lust of eros or even the brotherly affection of phileo. This is agape, the hard, sacrificial choice that sent Jesus to the cross (John 15:13). The most complete description of agape is found in 1 Corinthians 13:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (vs. 1-3)
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We love helping others and believe that’s one of the reasons we are chosen as Ambassadors of the Kingdom, to serve God’s children. We look to the Greatest Commandment as our Powering force.
These three verses speak of religion and ministry. Dynamic preaching, limitless knowledge, unshakeable faith, and even extreme charity are nothing without a conscious choice to seek the welfare of another beyond one’s self. Jesus made this point to the Pharisees in Luke 1:42-44—they tithed relentlessly and coveted the respect of public ministry but disregarded “the love of God.” As Jesus taught in Matthew 6:5 and 16, when Christian ministry is performed for the purpose of garnering attention, that attention is all the reward that will be given; God will not reward acts done for selfish motives.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
