Giving Credit

by Jason Park

If you think about the fruit of the Spirit, you notice that they are all character-qualities, virtues. You can love, be joyful or rejoice, and have or make peace, but before any of these can be expressed on the outside, they have to be residing on the inside, in our hearts. And because Christ does dwell in us, we do bear the fruit of the Spirit. 

But in all our fruit-bearing, in all our growth in godliness, who gets the credit? Who is the power-source behind it? Even when we’re doing well spiritually, there’s still enough evil pride left in us that we can look at our growth and our good works and secretly (or not) glory in ourselves. We never fully outgrow self-exaltation! 

That’s why when we consider growth in godliness (ours or anyone else’s), it’s critical that we give credit where credit is due. In Phil 1, we see Paul giving thanks to God for the Philippian church’s partnership in the gospel through thick and thin. Paul is confident in this church’s growth because God began a good work in them and will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus (1:6). And at the end of his prayer, in 1:11, Paul affirms that they will grow more in love (for one another) because they’ve already been filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. And since godliness comes through Christ who lives in them/in us, all the glory and praise go straight to God alone (1:11)! 

So, let’s summarize and tease out truths about our growth in godliness based on Phil 1:1-11:

1. Growth will happen because God is working in us through Christ.
   No matter how weak your faith is or how small your fruit may be, God is working and will not stop working in His children until we see Christ. 

2. Growth is not the result of my good works; my good works are the result of true, heart or character growth.
   This keeps me from spiritual pride. And it focuses me on true godliness, which is inner-Christlikeness; not just external conformity to God’s commands. 

3. When there’s real growth in my life, I will naturally focus on Christ and praise Him for it.
   When I trust in God’s work in me to grow me in Christ, I will be more grateful, more joyful, less self-absorbed, and less conscious of my good works. And in this way, I will give glory to the One who gives all the growth.