Phil Watson, author of the Change Ready discussion guide series, reflects on four practical expressions of goodness in action from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. This is part of our series on the fruit of the Spirit (featuring artwork by Daniel White). 

Paul pointed to four things to help the Philippian believers live out their faith and please God. Together, they illustrate real-life expressions of ‘goodness’ (agathosune): a desire after goodness, to be and do good (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words).  

This fruit is expressed through our devotion to Jesus, the examples we follow, the way we think and the stories we share.  

Goodness keeps our eyes on Jesus 

Paul encouraged the Philippians to focus on Jesus, deepening their devotion to him and holding out the hope of the gospel to others. In Philippians 2:16, epecho carries both ideas: to ‘hold tightly on to’ and to ‘hold out’ or offer to others. 

Faith is a free and generous gift from God (Philippians 1:29, Ephesians 2:8-9), but that is only the start. Our spiritual growth lasts a lifetime. Even Paul, after decades wholeheartedly following Jesus, said that he hadn’t reached his spiritual goal (Philippians 3:12). So, it’s not surprising that we can feel impatient or discouraged by our speed of progress, or lack of it.  

However, perhaps we haven’t really noticed where God has been acting in our lives, so taking time to think – even hitting ‘a pause button’ and constructing a timeline (an exercise explored in Change Ready: Adjusting Well) – can often be surprisingly helpful.  

Meanwhile, God our Father celebrates all our teetering steps, just like when a child first learns to walk – here I speak especially as a proud grandfather! 

Goodness learns from faithful examples 

Paul highlighted living examples of goodness in action that the Philippians would know and be able to imitate; these were Timothy, Epaphroditus and Paul himself (Philippians 2-4). They could also learn positive and negative lessons from less prominent figures, including some unnamed leaders, Euodia, Syntyche and Clement.  

In Philippi, a Roman colony, Roman citizenship afforded significant rights, privileges and advantages over everyone else. The question was whether believers would ‘try to fit in’ or face opposition, harsh treatment and exploitation. Paul challenged the Philippian believers to focus on living as citizens of heaven instead (Philippians 1:27, 3:20).  

He highlighted some of the characteristics of people who resisted the pressure and lived humbly and courageously, willing to suffer and to risk their lives and livelihoods for the gospel. This vision of the good life is challenging and incredibly humbling! 

Goodness shapes the way we think 

Paul highlighted their thought life, urging them to think carefully, to evaluate and to focus on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy, (Philippians 4:8).  

Life was rarely easy for Jesus’ first followers and similarly for some believers today. Believers found themselves torn by choices to follow their own desires rather than to be led by the Spirit and to live differently.  

In answer to pressures or threats to conform to what society held as important values, Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:1 ‘…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received’, encouraging them to be humble, gentle, patient and to bear with one another in love. Then, in verse 17, he wrote, ‘I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.’ The Spirit transforms our thinking, so that good living increasingly flows from good thinking.  

Goodness shares stories that strengthen others 

Paul also recognised the power of shared stories, whether that happens across generations or between peers. We can tell stories of challenges we’ve faced (Philippians 1:30), of God’s intervention, of practical support and encouragement from people who have ‘been there, done that, got the T-shirt’.   

This is solidarity in action. It is the kind of story we should celebrate and give thanks for because it points to a deeper Christian community, rooted not in shared interests or life stages, but in our shared unity with Christ. As the good news of Jesus transforms our lives, our stories become a source of encouragement to others. 

Goodness is ultimately less about achieving a particular level of spiritual maturity and more about learning to follow Jesus faithfully wherever he has placed us. As life changes, new questions emerge: Who am I now? What’s my contribution now? The fruit of goodness grows as we continue responding to God in each new season. 

Not everyone will wholeheartedly accept Paul’s challenge about how to live, but that’s OK – we are all works ‘in progress’; we can start, or re-start, where we are, and become more intentional about learning and growing spiritually. Encouraging one another in prayer, in person and in practical ways is a good place to start.