“for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.” 2 Corinthians 8:21 ESV
Reflection: what is good fruit?
Have you ever run into a situation where someone says something very nice, but these words do not represent or describe their observable actions? I’m sure you have, if you think about it. Someone being two-faced, or “double minded” as the Bible calls it. Some might be better at hiding what is actually in their hearts than others, but at some point their true heart is revealed. Might be at first a snide remark, perhaps gossip or slander, but eventually something more hurtful is said or done. It is very difficult to continue to hide what is truly in our hearts. Either good or bad. The Bible calls action resulting from our hearts “fruit”.
John the Baptist warned those who had an outward appearance of good and right, but their hearts were filled with evil, “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Matthew 3:7-10 ESV.
Jesus also used this analogy of fruit, talking about how to identify false prophets, ““Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:15-20 ESV. The word Matthew used for “good” fruit, is the Greek word Kalos, which is the same as Paul uses in our focus verse, translated to “honorable”.
Kalos means, in a biblical context, what is beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable.
Paul said that their “aim” was to do what was considered Kalos in the eyes of the Lord, and in the eyes of man. He was talking here specifically about the action they had taken by collecting money as a gift for the saints who desperately needed help. And this large gift had come from multiple churches around the region. And, what Paul might have been concerned with was that the focus of the gift would be confused or tainted in any way by the beauty and goodness of the hearts behind the gift. He wanted to make sure it was as beautiful, as precious and useful, representing the goodness of the hearts behind it.
So what is the quality of the fruit we are producing? What comes from what we say, and what we do? Is it beautiful? Do we aim for it to be Kalos, “not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.”? God knows the true intentions of our hearts, and only He can heal us, so that we will produce Kalos fruit. Let’s pray with David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Psalm 139:23-24 ESV