Grapes vs. Bananas
We live in a world full of choices, often choices we can pick and choose from. I recently needed to buy some body wash. Who knew that could be so hard, with every scent from teakwood to tropical coconut. They even had deep woods. Wouldn’t that attract mosquitoes?
Not into body wash scents? Okay, then think back to the last time you went out to eat. When you can order individually priced items off the menu, it is called À la carte. The literal meaning of the French phrase is “by the card,” but is commonly used to mean “according to the menu.” As opposed to À la carte, a set meal (grilled chicken with a salad and two sides) at a fixed price is table d´ hôte, which comes from the French phrase, “the host’s table.” This is the type of restaurant menu we are most accustomed to seeing. A third menu is known as prix fixe, which is one price for all courses served together as a meal.
Many times, we want to follow God à la carte. We want to pick and choose which of God’s commands to embrace. God has given us free will to choose between good and evil, right and wrong, love and hate, etc. Paul tells us that we have freedom in Christ. In Galatians 5:13 we read this, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom in indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
This freedom we have is a liberty (free from restrictions) not a license (permission granted to do something). What I mean by that is our freedom is not a permission granted to indulge our flesh. Galatians 5:19-21 gives us a list of the sinful acts of the flesh. This list is à la carte; each behavior is “separately priced” and can be “ordered” on its own. I can have outbursts of anger without being sexually immoral. I can struggle with envy without practicing witchcraft.
Today I want to focus not on the acts that our sinful nature is capable of, but rather, I want to look at the fruit that comes by living in the Spirit. The “Fruit of the Spirit” consists of attitudes and actions that should all be evident in followers of Jesus. In this context, the word “fruit” is in the singular form, meaning it is not an À la carte menu to pick and choose from. These nine fruits, like a table d´ hôte menu that does not allow for picking and choosing, come as one “set meal.” I cannot model kindness but leave out patience or self-control
Let’s switch images from restaurant menus to actual fruit. But first, sometimes the English language is rather confusing. A cluster (singular noun) of grapes is singular whereas a bunch (collective noun) of bananas is considered plural. Looking at it another way, this Spirit fruit is like a bunch of grapes, all one cluster, as compared to separate and differing bananas, ones we can pick and choose from.
So then, just what is this fruit? In Galatians 5:22-23 we find, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there in no law (NASB).”
These virtues need no classification, but to help understand them, let me offer three categories. The first three can be viewed as habits of our heart, the second three as social values, and the last three concern how we are to be in ourselves.
Leave À la carte at the restaurant. Pass by the bananas. Ask God to help you grow fruit in your life from His singular cluster of grapes.
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