Kindness

Introduction

Today’s sermon is going to be really short because we have to make the gifts together later on, so pay attention!

So we are continuing the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

And today, we are doing kindness.

When you think of the word ‘kindness’, it is really easy to think of lots of different examples in the Bible. Can you think of any?

Rehab hiding the Israelites when the Israelite spies entered the city of Jericho

David showing mercy to Saul when David had the opportunity to kill his enemy

The story of the good Samaritan, who helped the person in need on the road

Jesus and his feeding of the 5000

Jesus and his multiple healings

Jesus and his offer of salvation to us - that is the ultimate kindness!

So let’s take a quick tour of what the Bible tells us about kindness.

1. Kindness is towards others

So firstly, kindness is an overall attitude, or posture, that we have towards others. Kindness is relational. And what kind of relationship or attitude? Kindness is where we want the benefit of the other person.

Read Luke 6:35 “35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”

We can see here that kindness has a direction. It’s something that’s meant to flow out of you. It doesn’t remain in you like stagnant water, but it flows towards others.

And as it flows out towards others, it is completely interested in benefiting the other, in helping the other, being useful to the other.

So often the way we operate when we help others, is we always ask, what’s in it for me? How does it benefit me?

Why should I do this, when I’m tired, can’t be bothered? Why should I be kind to others when I don’t understand or see the point of it? Why should I help others when I’m not getting any thanks? I’m not getting any recognition for my sacrifice?

But that’s not how kindness in the Bible operates. Kindness doesn’t expect anything in return, at least in this life. It doesn’t question, it doesn’t ask ‘why?’. It only asks ‘how?’. How can I be loving and helpful and useful to my neighbour?

It is completely other-person centred.

And who do we show kindness to? We don’t only show kindness to those we like and love. That’s easy. True kindness can show kindness that we find difficult to love. Even our enemies. Believers are to show kindness to those who we find most difficult.

2. Kindness is hard

So kindness is hard! How can we show kindness to our enemies? In fact, I would say it is impossible to show kindness. How can we show this impossible kindness?

Read Colossians 3:12 “12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,”

The Bible tells us to ‘put on’ kindness. Kindness isn’t something that comes naturally to us. It is something that needs to come from the outside, something we have to ‘put on’. Ultimately, we have to ‘put on’ Jesus Christ himself - we need the kindness of Christ himself, something completely foreign and alien to us, something that doesn’t belong to us, because it is not a kindness we can produce ourselves.

And it is a gift from God. It is a fruit. Something that God grows in us. But although it is completely God’s work and God’s kindness, it doesn’t mean we just sit there passively doing nothing - we are commanded to put on kindness. God uses our efforts as well - we are to struggle, and try hard, strive upwards for the transcendent, impossible kindness, by depending on Him in faith, in prayer, and reading and growing in His Word.

3. Kindness is powerful

Finally, kindness is powerful. It is a surprising power. Just like the power of patience to persuade as we talked about last week, kindness is also powerful.

Read Proverbs 12:18 “18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Read Proverbs 15:4 “4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”

The kindness we show to others through our speech can be life changing. The Bible describes kindness, especially in our speech, can bring healing to a person. Not healing of physical wounds, but of broken hearts, of broken and despairing lives. A gentle tongue is a tree of life - our tongues are a source of great evil, but when it is tamed by God, it is God’s instrument of giving life, healing, and salvation to others.

What is the content of our speech when we are with others? Is our speech full of boasting, bringing others down, envy, hate, complaining, negativity? Or is our speech kind? Being used to love others, encourage one another, actually build one another up?

Be mindful of what you say, because our words are powerful - rash, unwise speech can break someone’s heart and spirit; but wise and kind speech can bring healing and life.

Conclusion

So I want everyone to remember kindness this week. Remember, kindness is:

(1) an attitude we have towards others. It is relational. It is a genuine desire to benefit and helping others, without asking the question ‘what about me’ and ‘why should I do that?’

(2) kindness is hard, it is something we can’t do and we don’t have, so we need God’s help. We need to actively depend on him.

(3) kindness is powerful. Our words matter. Let’s use our words for kindness to bring life to others, rather than evil which will destroy our neighbours.

Let us all put on kindness this week, because this is how we live in the image of Christ.