Fruit of the Spirit

8th Fruit of the Spirit:

Gentleness

The result of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Biblical gentleness doesn’t mean conduct yourself in a tender and soft way, or even controlling physical strength for the benefit of another. To be gentle is to have a humble heart and peaceful mind while submitting totally to God’s plan and will for your life. The Greek words for “gentleness” and “meekness” are somewhat interwoven in English translations. “Prautes” is the Greek word translated “gentleness” according to Galatians 5:23 (NIV), which means “to submit one’s strength in a posture of meekness.” It also is to calmly accept God’s judgment regarding a situation, even if that judgment results in personal hardship. It is humility toward God. In addition, “Prautes” is translated eight times as “gentleness” with “humility,” and “meekness.” “Epieikeia” is also translated as “gentleness” or “kindness.” It refers to the kindly grace that God displays when He helps those who don’t deserve it (sinners save by grace). “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” Galatians 6:1 (NKJV). All use gentleness to describe the way we are to correct or teach others.

The Holy Spirit works in us to be more like Christ. In which part of the fruit, or results, of that work is gentleness. “Gentleness” is also translated “meekness,” does not mean weakness. Rather, it involves humility and thankfulness toward God, and polite, restrained behavior toward others. The opposites of gentleness are anger, a desire for revenge, and self-glory. The gentleness in the New Testament is closely related to wisdom and spiritual growth. All believers are to submit our endurance and self–will, including the strength of our convictions, to God’s wisdom. We are also to teach only God’s point of view (from the Bible), not your own. In addition, we are to accept that God’s actions toward ourselves and others are the accurate actions, even when human wisdom tries to reason otherwise. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” 1 Peter 3:15. In addition, to be gentle is to accept the adversities, difficulties and struggles that God allows to come in your life, through considering them as disciplinary measures for nurturing and spiritual development. Gentleness is an inward grace that easily submits your own strength of will to God’s Lordship.

We can speak words that influence others; we can act in ways that help or hurt; and we can choose what influences will inform our words and actions. Gentleness constrains and channels that power. To be gentle is to recognize that God's ways and thoughts are high above our own. ““For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” Isaiah 55:9 (NKJV). It is to humbly realize that our worldviews are shaped by exposure to sin and the misinterpretation of experience. It is to accept God's worldview, reflecting truth about the spiritual and the material worlds. Yet, “submission” or “gentleness” toward God is actually a large piece of the puzzle when it comes to a question about heaven. When we are filled with the Spirit’s fruit of gentleness, we will correct others with easiness instead of arguing in resentment and anger, knowing that their salvation is far more important than our pride. Gentleness also means giving up the right to condemn or judge what is best for ourselves and others. God is not as concerned with our comfort as He is concerned with our spiritual growth, and He knows how to grow us far better than we do. Gentleness means that we accept that the rain falls on the evil and the just and that God may use methods we don't like to reach our hearts and the hearts of others.

When we exhibit the kindness of God, we are tender, benevolent, and useful to others. Every action, every word will have the flavor of grace in it. To maintain this attitude toward those we love is hard enough. To express kindness toward those who are against us requires the work of God. “But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness (gentleness), by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love” 2 Corinthians 6:4–6 (NKJV). That is why kindness is a fruit of the Spirit. Gentleness is the spirit and attitude behind repentance. To “repent” in a biblical sense is to change one’s mind and believe that God is right. Repentance is necessary for salvation, and you need to carry an attitude of repentance in a gentle spirit your entire life. No matter what you must face, God is right, because your point of view is limited, misguided, and self–seeking. A gentle heart will accept God’s wisdom and yield to His discernment. You can only be gentle as the Holy Spirit develops spiritual fruit in your life.

The greatest authority on earth is the power of the Holy Spirit. For, it is this Spirit, God’s Spirit that enables believers to be far meeker (submissive) and gentle (humbles) than we could ever be without the fruit of gentleness or meekness, as Paul shows in his letter to the churches of Galatia. Finally, to live in a spirit of gentleness toward God is to accept His judgment on people and issues. We tend to think it is gentle to go easy on people and try to justify actions that God has called sin. Or to let someone continue in sin without speaking the truth. But Paul says, “If anyone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1). This doesn’t mean to be so soft that the sinner doesn’t realize that they are a sinner. It means to confront the brother in a manner that is in line with Scripture, to be mild, loving, encouraging, and clear about the holiness that God calls us to. It’s easy to see how the attributes among the Fruit of the Spirit overlap and relate to each other. Meekness and gentleness relate very closely because they reflect more compassion, forgiveness, sympathy along with temperance to others, as Christ command us. To keep your attitudes and actions meek and gentle, you will need to swim upstream against the culture’s current of rudeness and roughness. Remember that an important part of being that shining light is having godly meekness and gentleness. And someday the whole world will be a peaceful and joyful place.