Introduction: (Overhead 1)
Steve Sjogren’s story of he and the store manager in his book Servant Warfare.
“You’re what?”
“I have a mind to call the cops.”
“If it makes you feel good – go ahead.”
“Would someone like me, fit in?”
“ Yes, you would!”
He goes on to say, “This woman had probably spent years outside the church critically watching Christians, but never once thought the message of Christ had anything to offer her. Before my eyes, in a matter of minutes, God’s love became real to her for the first time.” (Servant Warfare, page 15)
Sjogren goes on to suggest that the act of kindness is an overlooked and underused way of reaching out to those who are looking for hope and peace.
What does the Bible have to say about kindness? It has a great deal to say. Paul tells the early church in Colossians 3:12 to clothe itself with, among other things, kindness.
(Overhead 2) But there are three stories, two in the Old Testament and one the New Testament that clearly demonstrates kindness.
The Good Samaritan – Luke 10:30-37
1. Notice the progression of the Samaritan’s actions:
a. He saw the man and he felt pity.
b. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them.
c. He got him to a safe place and provide for him until he was strong enough to be on his way without further financial strain.
d. The Samaritan did not leave the wounded man where he was.
e. The Samaritan took responsibility far beyond what would have been expected.
2. The result – a person’s life was saved. Question to consider: Did the act of kindness change the victim’s life in any way?
Ruth and Boaz – Ruth 2
1. Notice how kindness plays out in this story.
a. Ruth, who is a foreigner, goes to work to support herself and her mother-in-law by gleaning left over grain in the fields.
b. The field’s owner, Boaz, notices her and tells his people to let her do her work and not bother her.
c. Ruth thanks Boaz for his kindness as we read in verse 10.
d. Boaz notes Ruth’s kindness in staying by her mother-in-law and even coming to this country to live with her.
e. Boaz allows Ruth to glean freely which allows her to provide for her and Naomi, her mother-in-law
2. The result – Ruth and Naomi were able to survive. Question: In what other ways did Boaz’s kindness change Ruth’s life?
Speaking of David – David demonstrates a great act of kindness that was a politically risky move. We read of it in 2 Samuel 9:1-13.
1. David honors a friendship in showing kindness.
a. David remembers a promise made to Jonathon – a promise of care and support. 1 Samuel 20:42 “At last Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have made a pact in the Lord’s name. We have entrusted each other and each other’s children into the Lord’s hands forever.”
b. David makes good on this promise as he takes in one of Jonathan’s sons, Mephibosheth.
c. Mephibosheth is crippled. Perhaps that made him an outcast or put him in an environment far from ideal. But that does not matter to David he remembers his commitment to Jonathon to care for any of his children.
d. David brings Mephibosheth into his home and cares for he and his family.
e. Question: How did David’s act of caring change Mephibosheth’s life?
The Bible has much to teach us about being kind and let us know that kindness is expected of God’s followers.
(Overhead 3) What are the lessons learned from these stories of kindness?
1. Kindness puts us at risk
a. For the Samaritan those who attacked the wounded man could have attacked him or the wounded man could have attacked him as well.
b. If he was on a business trip he could have been missing out on some important business. Business necessary to feed his family.
c. For Ruth, Boaz’s kindness could have put her in a risky situation. Sexual harassment is not a new issue.
d. Someone could have complained that they were not getting their fair share of gleaning or Ruth could have taken advantage of Boaz.
e. David could have found himself in a tough spot as Mephibosheth could have rallied the Saul loyalists and tried to overthrow David. His own family could have complained about having to share the palace with a former king’s grandson.
Acts of kindness can put us at risk. But, the Lord expects us to develop kindness in our lives. It is a fruit of the spirit.
2. Kindness makes our faith credible.
a. Boaz and Ruth are a part of Jesus Christ’s human genealogy as written in Matthew 1. What might have happened if kindness had not been expressed either by Boaz or Ruth?
b. As a result of the kindness expressed by them to others a bond of love is created which leads to marriage and a son named Jesse, David’s father.
c. David’s act of kindness grows out of a heart of deep faith and commitment to God that would be expressed in a wide variety of ways in his lifetime.
d. Jesus develops the story of the Good Samaritan to prove that kindness is an expected trait of His followers.
e. We don’t know the faith of the Good Samaritan, but we do know that Ruth, Boaz, and David express their faith through their acts and attitudes of kindness.
(Overhead 4) Because kindness is very important in the expression of our faith we need to spot and understand barriers to kindness.
1. We need to understand and learn to spot barriers to kindness.
a. Fear instead of love can keep us from being kind because we fear what the obligations of kindness may mean.
b. Pessimism instead of joy can keep us from being kind because we can resign our self to feelings of being overwhelmed with the amount of care that kindness requires and the discouragement that comes when our acts or ministry of kindness do not seem to make a difference.
c. Discord instead of peace. When relationships are strained and conflict is present kindness cannot take root.
d. Impatience instead of patience. When you think of a kind person, you think of a patient person as well. But, impatience makes it nearly impossible for kindness to flourish.
How do we then get kindness to grow in our hearts and lives?
(Overhead 5) Kindness becomes a part of our lives when:
1. We let the Holy Spirit grow it in us.
a. Fruit is defined in our series’ text, Galatians 5:22 and 23 as indications of the Spirit or results of the Spirit.
b. These fruits deal with our character and if we claim to be followers of Christ, then kindness must be a part of us.
2. We continue to cultivate all of the fruits.
a. We need to look at the fruits as growing together. Some may grow faster and others take longer, but they grow together as we let the Holy Spirit continue to lead us.
b. Each fruit builds on and in turn gains strength from the other fruits.
c. Notice that kindness comes after patience. What kind of conclusion can we make from these two fruits being listed one and after the other?
d. We start practicing “random and intentional acts of kindness.” Here are some suggestions:
i. Pick up after our selves at home, the office, even here at church.
ii. Say “thank you” more often.
iii. Get involved in a community service project or ministry like Common Grace.
iv. Do someone’s laundry (with their permission) to allow that person or family some time for other tasks or to have time together.
v. Pay for someone’s car wash as you are paying for your gas.
Conclusion: Two men from Steve Sjogren’s church found themselves making a delivery of food to a fortuneteller whose niece had requested the help.
a. The men were dismayed to make the stop. But they went ahead and did it.
b. “You guys help people regardless of a persons faith, right?”
c. The men agreed but said the future was bleak without Jesus.
d. The food was left and as they began to leave they prayed for the niece as the madam and customers watched.
e. Some of the customers began to ask for prayers as well.
f. The men then asked if any would like to receive Christ as Savior. 8 of those present said, “yes.”
g. Sjogren concludes, “Two bags of groceries built a bridge” into the lives and hearts of those who needed Christ.
Have you heard of the story of the boy and the starfish? It seems that after a terrific night storm, the sea had so churned itself and hundreds of starfish had washed up on the shore.
The next morning a man saw a boy picking up starfish and throwing them back into the sea. He approached the boy and said to him, ‘There are hundreds of starfish on this beach. Do you think that you can make a difference in saving them?’
The boy looked at him and then simply picked up another starfish and threw it back into the water. “It made a difference to that one didn’t it?” was his reply.
In a world when there is so much pain and turbulence and tragedy, it seems one small act of kindness is insignificant. But, it can make a difference.
The life, to which we can be saved and made right with God, requires an expression of kindness as evidence of love, joy, peace, and patience in our lives. Let us keep being kind to one another and those who need kindness in their lives as well. Amen
(overheads available from me at pastorjim46755@yahoo.com as for 101203svgs)
