Really?!?Chikamu

Fruit Gets Lonely

Take a moment to think about all of the things that require teamwork. Climbing a ladder, learning to read, learning to talk, playing music, or any organized sport. We wouldn’t learn anything of value if not for other people teaching or working with us.

That is what today’s reading is all about. In Galatians 5:22-25, we read about what are called the “fruits of the spirit.” They are some of the most important characteristics of those who follow Jesus, the kinds of traits that Christians should strive for. Often we talk about them like they are qualities we can work toward on our own. But the truth is, we need other people to refine them in us.

Think about the list that the author gives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. None of these characteristics do any good without other people to share them with.

In the movie Castaway, Tom Hanks tried to love a volleyball, and it wasn’t completely successful. It takes real people to teach us how to love, how to be kind, or how to practice self-control. It takes other people to be able to live out the fruits of the spirit.

So the questions we need to answer today are these: Do you view your relationships as places where you can grow? Do you see them as places where you can live out your spiritual life? If not, how can you start to change your perspective?