Kindness & Goodness

Galatians 5: 22, 23 But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

In Galatians before the fruit of the Spirit it lists the works of the sinful nature. So the fruit of the spirit is what happens in our life when God is in control.

In Jerusalem Peter and John were arrested by the Jewish council for preaching about Jesus. They get questioned and answer with great authority.

Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Being with Jesus had influenced ordinary, unschooled people to speak with great confidence.

On the same note, as we are with Jesus so others should note a change in our lives especially in the areas of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control because we cannot stay around Jesus without being changed.

In the OT there is a story of great kindness & goodness.

Background - Saul was the 1st king of Israel. Son was Jonathan, his best friend was David. Jonathan & Dave had made a covenant (blood oath that is binding for generations) to always be friends, protect one another, shared wealth etc.

David became a very successful soldier and Saul was threatened by him & tried to kill him a few times. David eventually had to flee from Saul.

Later Saul and Jonathan - were both killed in battle.

Nurse who was assigned to look after Jonathan’s child probably dropped him – he became paralysed in both feet.

Years later David becomes the king. Defeats the enemies and has this thought -

2 Samuel 9:1-2

One day, David thought, “I wonder if any of Saul’s family are still alive. If they are, I will be kind to them, because I made a promise to Jonathan.” David called in Ziba, one of the servants of Saul’s family….

David finds out about Mephibosheth and sends people to bring him…

2 Samuel 9: 7-13

David said, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll be kind to you because Jonathan was your father. I’m going to give you back the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. Besides that, you will always eat with me at my table.”

Mephibosheth knelt down again and said, “Why should you care about me? I’m worth no more than a dead dog.”

David called in Ziba, Saul’s chief servant, and told him, “Since Mephibosheth is Saul’s grandson, I’ve given him back everything that belonged to your master Saul and his family. You and your fifteen sons and twenty servants will work for Mephibosheth. You will farm his land and bring in his crops, so that Saul’s family and servants will have food. But Mephibosheth will always eat with me at my table.”Ziba replied, “Your Majesty, I will do exactly what you tell me to do.” So Ziba’s family and servants worked for Mephibosheth.

Mephibosheth was lame, but he lived in Jerusalem and ate at David’s table, just like one of David’s own sons. And he had a young son of his own, named Mica.

From this story we learn that kindness and goodness …

1. NEEDS TO BE INTENTIONAL

v1One day, David thought, “I wonder if any of Saul’s family are still alive. If they are, I will be kind to them, because I made a promise to Jonathan.” 2 David called in Ziba…

How often do we read a moving story and perhaps shed a tear or think God help them or even think – I hope someone helps them only to be distracted and soon forget about that cause.

I’m not saying that we need to get behind every cause but if we feel like we need more of this fruit then we will need to act on a few causes. We need to move from good intentions to good actions.

Colossians 3 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Today we are all clothed, we chose that shirt, blouse, pants, dress, socks and shoes – some of you chose well.

POINT – Intentionality. You put some thought into it.

2.NEEDS TO BE DONE WITHOUT 'STRINGS' ATTACHED

v8 Mephibosheth knelt down again and said, “Why should you care about me? I’m worth no more than a dead dog.”

David was not being political here to look good or in case Mephibosheth became king later. His kindness was based on the covenant he made.

It’s easy to be kind to someone who can help you in the future, further your cause, help you with your homework / job etc. but it’s true kindness when you help someone who can give you nothing / do nothing for you.