The Relational Fruit

Charlie Brown's Linus made a statement which we often would agree with. He said, "The world would be a wonderful place if it wasn't for people!" We have all had days when we would just as soon stay at home and come in contact with no one. Sometimes it seems that we can never please people. Perhaps we should have the same response as Colonel George Washington Goethals who was responsible for the completion of the Panama Canal. In the midst of constant criticism from people and predictions that he would never finish the project he was asked if he wasn't going to answer his critics. He responded, "Yes, in time, when the canal is finished."

Our lives are like the Panama Canal project. There will be many who are offended by our faith and oppose our efforts to reflect Christ into their lives. Their will be criticism, opposition and apathy which will challenge us to display the relational fruit of the Spirit. We will need to display longsuffering (patience), kindness and goodness until our lives are finished as they are a testimony in themselves to the value of our faith.

Patience is highly valued in Scripture. Proverbs says "a patient man has great understanding", "better a patient man then a warrior" and "through patience a ruler can be persuaded." Kindness is advocated to the point of even giving a cup of water to our enemies. The shepherd's psalm indicates that goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life. People around us will respond to the relational fruit. If we find people impossible to get along with, then it may be that we need to allow the Spirit to develop patience, kindness and goodness in us.