Producing Olives from Fig Trees

Reflections for this date are based on the following scripture passages:
James 1	James 2	James 3	Exodus 17	Exodus 18	Psalms 29

The fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control) are never exercised inappropriately. For there is never an occasion in which they are not appropriate. Furthermore, with any attempt to exercise them in an inappropriate manner, they are no longer fruit of the Spirit.

James, in the third chapter of his epistle, addresses this issue of false fruit. Fruit of the Spirit cannot come from one who does not have the Spirit in them just as a fig tree cannot produce olives. Neither can one who truly has the Spirit in them produce bitter envy and selfish ambition. James says we fool ourselves in defiance of the truth to think otherwise. That is, to think we are being led by the Spirit while harboring these thoughts. Such thoughts lead only to "disorder and every kind of evil" while the wisdom that comes from above "is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy." (James 3:17)

Some mistakenly think righteousness must at times be promoted by attacking unrighteousness or those who are not righteous. Strife becomes their method of overcoming evil. But James disagrees saying, "the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (James 3:18) Romans 12:21 also disagrees saying we should "overcome evil with good."