The word goodness is listed in Galatians 5:22 as a fruit of the Spirit and was used in the New Testament to portray a person who is generous, big-hearted and liberal. We would call this person a giver.
According to Acts 10:38, this “goodness” operated mightily in Jesus, as He was anointed “with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all…” In this verse, we generally focus on the reference to healing and overlook the “doing good” part. However, these words are from the Greek word euergeteo, which denotes a philanthropist or one who financially supports charitable works. It was used to describe one who assisted those who were less fortunate.
Jesus didn’t only operate in the supernatural; He also used the resources that were available to Him to do “good works” in the natural realm. He cared for the poor; He ministered to the basic needs of mankind.
I recently did a concordance search of the phrase “good works,” and was amazed at the number of times these words appear in the New Testament.
Acting in “goodness” is a character feature of the nature of God. As Spirit-filled people, we should be selfless, using our resources to help others. As we walk in the Spirit, we will be sensitive to the needs of those around us, and our hearts will be moved to give.
This may seem foreign to our understanding, but it appears that Jesus had some supporters that contributed to His ministry. Luke 8:3 tells us that several women with considerable means backed Him financially. In other words, they were sponsors. Judas’ words in John 12:5 would indicate that Jesus’ ministry had a significant philanthropic outreach to the needy. Would you like to “do good” by supporting a great cause that is very close to the heart of God? Please consider supporting Tupelo Children’s Mansion. For more information or to give online, go to www.mansionkids.org.
The above article was partially inspired by Sparkling Gems From The Greek by Rick Renner. It’s a great book!