Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness

Intro

Galatians 5:22–24 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

How would you define kindness?

Kindness (chrēstotēs)- Your moral integrity in how one relates to others

“The kindness of God leads to repentance. What does our kindness lead to?” — Leonard Ravenhill

God’s kindness confronts sin with grace—does ours call people to holiness or simply to like us?

What is the end result of your kindness?

This morning we are going to reflect on one of the most common used arables when discussing kindness, the good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37

How Does God Relate to You in His Moral Integrity?

This parable is part of a conversation between Jesus and a lawyer (Pharisee) and it starts with the lawyer asking how to be saved which leads the conversation to loving God with all your heart and loving people with all your heart

The first thing like so often we must start with where do we get our sense of integrity?

As the lawyer do you get it from following rules?

Or do you get it from Christ and the kindness he shows us?

Let us be honest in this parable we are the man laying in the ditch dying and underserving of grace and mercy from a samaritan

Christ is represented by the Samaritan

The one who had been bad mouthed and looked down on, but choose to love and rescue an enemy

Because of what happened on the cross is who your moral integrity can be that of righteousness because you have tasted the kindness and mercy of God

As a child of God you have exprienced being rescued from the ditch, now you have the oppurtunity to return the favor

Priest Response

So the first person to walk by should have been the one setting the prime example in helping

Why did he not help? (Was there non-racial reasons?)

Cultural Issues- First possible reason could be what would people think of me associating with that kind of people

Safety Issues- This road was a dangerous one (nicknamed “Way of Blood”), and he could have been thinking it was a trap

Ritual Issues- the Priest could have thought him dead; if he touched him would have been considered unclean for seven days and would have to undergo a purity ritual

All three of these issues tie to common excuses we give for not showing kindness

Appearances

How often is our kindness limited because of culture and looks?

Sometimes you may not treat someone with kindness because you do not want to be seen associating with certain people out of fear of your reputation being hurt

In office or medical field setting how often do you have a customer/patient walk in dressed a certain way and you think to yourself this person is about to be trouble and you find yourself being short with them right off the bat

Do you find yourself mainly ministering to a certain subset of people?

In the end God did not limit himself on appearance on who he showed kindness to

Safety

We put our well being ahead of kindness

“Pick up your cross and follow me”

Christ met physical needs. We meet physical needs to open doors to evangelism.

Just as the missionary in the Middle east puts his life at risk for the gospel, so do we

The same gospel missionaries risk their lives to share with the Muslim is the same gospel we risk our lives to share the gospel with the outcast

A missionary oppurtunity can be found at the Meridian gas pump, can be found in the Mobile parking lot, can be found in buying food for the local drug addict

A missionary oppurtunity is found in showing patience and kindness (while stern) with the drug addict at the doctors office or pharmacy counter

Convenience

The ritual issue came down to it would have been highly unconvenient to show compassion to this man, if he was still alive covered in blood he would have been unclea for a day, if he touched the man and discovered he was dead he would have been unclean for 7 days

How many times have you simply have not showed kindness to some one because it would unconvenience you? It would disrupt your day

You may be some type of office worker/customer service field and a customer gets to talking about some personal things, and you come up with an excuse to go on because you don’t have time to be compassionate because you can’t get 7, 10 minutes behind.

Kindness is not dependent upon convenience

We structure our lives around God. A fruit of His Spirit is kindness. Which means we structure our lives around kindness, we do not sprinkle kindness in when convnenient

Sacrificing for kindness is a small way of dying to self

Levite Response

The simplest way of describing the difference is the Levite would have been the associate/youth pastor while the pastor was the priest

Chances are he did not see the priest walk by the man, but the Levite was part of a culture the priest cultivated that valued appearance, safety, and convenience over kindness/compassion

As a church the way we behave constantly plays a role in creating culture and it is a culture that does not stay here, but carries beyond these walls

How does our church culture carry beyond these walls?

Hospitality- How does the act of kindness of sharing a meal shape us beyond those two meals?

Prayer- How does the boldness of prayer here affect us beyond these walls?

As a leader I have to ask myself what characteristics am I enstilling in those I am teaching? Teachers what are you enstilling under your leadership

Samaritan Response

Stopped and showed compassion that came at a personal cost and was long term and was not limited

The cost:

two denarii was two days worth of wages

“I will repay you when I come back” was pretty much like leaving a blank check

Side Note: We would have seen this guy as extremely kind for just getting the guy to the inn, we would have seen him of having done plenty, but the Samaritain demonstrated true holiness by being set apart in his kindness

He saw a physical need, and no questions asked, he done what was in his ability to meet the need

Is there a need for someone God has burdened you with?

What will you do with that oppurtunity, walk it by or cease the oppurtunity to be a missionary to your neighbor

He walked so he could ride

What have you given up so others may benefit? Time, vehicle, etc.

He financially sacrificed to meet the mans need

Finances are not yours to decide what to do with, every dime is the Lords

Most of us in this spot would have said we can only give this much to help, right now we have too much going on and this economy right now just limits what we can give

Do not get me wrong God does want us to practice financial wisdom, but there are times where God calls us to lay earthly wisdom to the side and allow him to work in miracolous ways.

Conclusion

What has kindness caused you to sacrifice? Or Has kindness never caused you to sacrifice?

When we choose kindness only when convenient we truly are practicing selfishness. Kindness that is done when is convenient is for our benefit, not the other persons

We need to worry less about who a neighbor is, and rather focus on being a good and kind neighbor.

1. True kindness costs something.

Ask yourself: When was the last time kindness cost me time, reputation, money, or comfort?

If your kindness never inconveniences you, it may not be biblical kindness.

2. Kindness is not selective.

Christ didn’t choose based on worthiness, comfort, or reputation—neither should we.

Who have you passed by this week because they didn’t “fit your type”?

3. Our kindness should reflect the kindness we've received.

We were the one dying in the ditch.

Jesus crossed cultural, spiritual, and eternal divides to rescue us.

Now, we become the Samaritan to others because we know what it means to be rescued.

4. You are building a culture with every act of kindness—or lack of it.

Your children, coworkers, church family—someone is always watching and learning.

What kind of culture is your life creating?

5. Kindness is missional.

Every act of kindness creates a bridge for the gospel.

A gas pump, hospital lobby, pharmacy line, or dinner table can become holy ground when kindness is present.

6. Your kindness either points people to Christ—or just makes you look nice.

7. Stop asking “Who is my neighbor?” and start living like one.

The lawyer tried to define the boundaries of kindness, Jesus tore the boundaries down.

The real question is: “Will I be a neighbor, even when it costs me?”