The fruit of righteousness means, “the state of him who is such as he ought to be: integrity, virtue, purity of life, uprightness, correctness in thinking, feeling, and acting.”[1] We must be covered with God’s righteousness, as ours equals filthy rags.[2] Thus, like all other fruit, bearing this fruit is not for my sake, but for the sake of others.

Integrity:

This is what you are regardless of circumstance.  The person of integrity does not believe in situational ethics.  They do not twist or bend the rules to fit their personal purpose.  With politicians and celebrities mocking such absolutes as the Ten Commandments, it does feel like we are sometimes swimming against the current.  But that’s exactly what a fruit bearing believer does!  He becomes the standard in his home.  She becomes the standard in her school.  The Bible tells us that when the enemy shall come in, like a flood the Lord will lift up a standard against him.[3] You are called to be that standard!

Integrity is what you are when nobody’s looking.  It’s the decisions you make when no one but God knows.  However, a lack of integrity will show just as much as a life of integrity will.  People are not blind or stupid.  They can tell the difference between the charlatan and the person of true character.

Purity of life:

The purest life is the one lived for Jesus Christ!  There is no other life.  Regardless of your social, economic, or educational status; this truly is the life!  Living life to the fullest, enjoying every moment, is what this aspect of the fruit of righteousness means.  The fruit of righteousness not only provides purity of life here on earth, it also promises purity of eternal life!

Correct thinking:

“Think before you speak.”

“A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”

These and other clichés about using your mind is imperative to right living.  Enough do not think correctly, but the fruit of righteousness aids the believer in correct thinking.  After all, everything begins in the mind.  This is why one must keep their minds focused on things that are just, pure, lovely, virtuous, honest, and of good report.[4]

If you look up a basic definition of the word repentance biblically, you will find it means to change the way you think and act.  In fact, you cannot truly change your actions without first changing your mind.

If more people had thought things through to the end, less crime, pain, and other negative things would happen.  The fruit of righteousness helps you think things through.

Correct feeling:

Correct thinking leads to correct feeling.  For example, the spouse considers all the hurt they will cause if they pursue an affair then they are able to reconcile their differences and have correct feelings again towards one another.

Feelings are usually fickle, thus we should not put a lot of stock in our feelings.  They can easily be changed by circumstance or chance.  Our feelings must be based on the facts of a situation, not supposition or assumptions.  The fruit of righteousness gives you the ability to decipher between what is true and what is not.

Correct acting:

And correct feelings lead to correct acting.  It’s a domino effect that shows Christ-likeness.  After processing correct thoughts which leads to correct feelings, you can think take correct action in any situation.  This is imperative to being genuine in sharing your faith with others.  Too many people are only Christians on Sundays.  This hypocritical lifestyle does damage to the witness and testimony of true believers.  Raymond Woodward observes that, “There are two reasons why someone doesn’t come to church: 1) They’ve never met a true Christian, or 2) they’ve only met one in name only.”

Stop and think for a moment.  Do your actions lead people to or away from God?  This hit home with me when I was employed with ATX here in Caribou.  My manager noted that I was a speed demon, and asked if my religion taught that one should obey the laws of the land.  I was embarrassed by this, especially since my license plate is “SOLID RK.”  I realized that even while he was joking, it was something to consider.  Many times that I’ve wanted to speed up and fly by someone, I think it through before acting.

My mother still to this day says, “Your actions speak louder than words.”  While I’m sure the quote is not original with her, she sure used it enough while I was growing up.  I vowed I would not be like her and never say that to my kids.  However, I also realize now you should never say “never…” I’ve told my children many times, “Your actions are speaking louder than your words.”  There is much truth to that sentence.  Examine your own life for a moment.  Reflect on your answer to this question: Do my actions match my words?  The fruit of righteousness helps me with to act accordingly in every situation: even those situations where I feel I should be vindicated or avenged.

Abraham took God at His word.  Abraham was not weak in the faith and neither did he stagger at God’s promises.  Abraham remained strong in the faith being fully persuaded that what God had promised He would also perform![5] Because of Abraham’s faith, God imputed righteousness to him.  Thus, Abraham is not the “father of the faithful” as some have said: instead, Abraham is the father of faith!  This faith Abraham exhibited in God, also gave him the right to be called the “friend of God.” [6]

[1] Thayer’s Greek Lexicon (#1343)

[2] Isaiah 64:6

[3] Isaiah 59:19

[4] Philippians 4:8

[5] Romans 4:18-21

[6] James 2:23