Kindness Series

August 15, 2020

It’s amazing how cruel and unkind people can be……….. Here is one example from this week’s headlines:

• Missouri woman pepper-sprays workers who ask her to wear a face mask

Despite the headlines, most of us live out our days fulfilling the obligations of life while trying to do the right thing: be a good employee, a good student, a good spouse, a good parent, a good citizen….. these things we do because we are expected to do them. Kindness moves us beyond the expected to the unexpected and extraordinary.

• In Hebrew, the word for God’s covenant kindness is “Chesed”. It is an attribute of grace, benevolence, mercy or compassion and literally refers to the voluntary compulsion to give and to love without limit those who have no merit.

• The Greek word for kindness “Chrastos”. It is an attribute of goodness, graciousness or kindness and is action toward someone to furnish what is needed.

Kindness comes in all shapes and sizes, but regardless of how big or small, Christian kindness finds its source in God’s Kindness toward us:

• Psalm 145:17 - The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.

• Jeremiah 9:24 - But let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.

• Jeremiah 31:3 - The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

• Luke 6:35 - But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

• Romans 2:4 - Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

• Titus 3:4-5 - But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

God’s love and kindness have been freely poured out on those who have rebelled against Him. He is kind to the wicked. He is kind to the ungrateful. His kindness does not discriminate. His kindness is without limit.

Kindness is an attribute of God, therefore, as His people kindness should also be an attribute found in us:

• Proverbs 3:3 - Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.

• Hosea 6:6 - For I desire mercy and not sacrifice….

• Micah 6:8 - He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

• Zechariah 7:9-10 - Thus has the LORD of hosts said, 'Dispense true justice, and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; 10 and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.

• Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

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

• 2 Peter 1:5-8 - Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Story – The Good Samaritan {Luke 10:27-37}

A lawyer came to Jesus for the purpose of testing him: "Teacher” he said, “what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus: "What does the law say?"

The lawyer: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."

Jesus: "Correct. Do this and you will live."

But wishing to justify himself, the lawyer replied, “Who is my neighbor?”

Jesus told a story: “A man was taking a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers, stripped naked and left for dead by the side of the road. Some time passed and a priest came upon the man. Instead of helping him, the priest went to the other side of the road and kept walking. Later, a Levite also came upon the wounded man, and he too, kept right on walking. Then a Samaritan {whom the Jews hate) came along. When he saw the man lying there, he took pity on him. He bandaged the man’s wounds, then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he paid the innkeeper 2 silver coins and told him, 'Look after the man. If there are any extra expenses for his care, I will reimburse you when I return.”