Show A Little Kindness Series

Show A Little Kindness

Galatians 5:22

Introduction: A woman was standing at a bus stop in Louisville KY. As she waited for the bus, she noticed a passerby stop and give some money to a beggar sitting nearby. She became convicted and thought to herself that she, too, should give the beggar something. She walked over and handed the man a ten-dollar bill. She leaned over to him and whispered into his ear “never despair, never despair”. The next morning the same woman was at the same spot. The beggar, to whom she had given the money, approached her and handed her a one-hundred-dollar bill. She said, “What’s that for?” He replied, “Lady, I took that money you gave me yesterday and went to the track. Never despair paid 10 to 1.” You never know how a bit of kindness will pay off! Let’s talk about kindness. We need to:

I. State the Meaning

The KJV uses the word “gentleness”. The NIV has it as “kindness”. The Greek word is “chrestotes”. It means a tender concern for others. The word has nothing to do with weakness or a lack of conviction. It is a desire to treat others gently, even as Jesus treats us. See I Thess. 2:6-7. Jesus was tough but always tender. The word stems from a toot that means “to furnish what is needed”. It is caring for others to the point of taking action. It is not just a sweet disposition and it is more than just compassion or sympathy. The word can also mean “excellent, of service or useful”. It is love in action that affirms the worth of another person. Every person, regardless of skin color or social status, has a soul, therefore they have worth, value, importance and significance. It is attention that leads to action that leads to affirmation.

II. See the Model

One need look no further than Jesus. See Titus 3:4

A. Let me state. He knows. He knows all about me. He knows my trials and weaknesses. See Gal. 6:1-2; Heb. 4:15-16. He understands my struggles and is still kind and loving. He shows. He shows me the way and truth. See John 8:32; Prov. 24:26. He loves us enough to tell us the truth. His words may cut and offend, but still He shows me the truth. He bestows. He bestows tenderness. See Rom. 3:23-24; Eph. 1:4; 3:32. So many people have a wrong perception of God.

B. Let me illustrate. Look at His kindness. See Luke 8:40-56. In that passage Jesus encounters two people. One was a man, the other a woman. One was rich, the other poor. One was an outcast, the other very influential. There were three dynamics at work. He attended. He saw them. He saw their needs. One had a sick daughter, the other a sick body. Their interruptions became opportunities. He affirmed. He saw their worth. He listened to their stories. He called one “daughter”. The other he told to “just believe”. He accepted One could go on and on. Look at the Good Samaritan, the feeding of the five thousand. He was always reaching out to the pained and the stained; the depressed and the distressed.

III. Strive for the Manifestation

William Barclay said, “More people have been brought into the church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the theological arguments in the world”. Someone once said, “Kindness is a language the dumb can speak and the deaf can hear”. Why should we strive to be kind? Look at:

A. The command. See Eph. 4:29-32; Rom. 12:9

B. The character. See Ps. 63:3; Isa. 49:16; I Cor. 13:4; Rom. 5:8

C. The conduct. See Prov. 11:17; 14:21; 14:31; 19:17; Luke 6:34-36; Col. 3:12-14; I Thess. 5:15; Titus 2:5. Our disposition should be one of kindness.

Conclusion: In closing let me say this. Look for opportunities. Know you will be inconvenienced. Remember that others have been kind to you. Contemplate God’s kindness. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “You can never do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” Be kind!