Daddy's Little Helper

Introduction

A while ago people were discussing their occupations around my son in law, Bobby, and my 3 year old grandson, Oliver. The little boy loves to put on his Home depot bib, work clothes, and a very serious working face and do little home projects with his dad. So, when he heard folks discussing where they worked, he piped in “I work at Home Depot” He is daddy’s little helper.

As we continue our study on being ‘doers of the word”, we must remember what we have learned so far from . We have learned that simply making a list of what not to do will not help us to find a lasting change in our behavior. We have found that the only lasting change will come when we trust in Jesus as personal Savior. Only then will be be made into new creatures. Only then will we receive the Holy Spirit.

We have learned that every believer has a war within himself. There are two fighting factions, the Spirit and the Flesh. The very existence of such a fight is not evidence of one’s weakness, but proof of one’s salvation. Without the indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit, there would be no fight between the Spirit and the flesh.

We have learned that the Spirit and the Flesh are opposite. If you walk after the one, you will not be following the other. We have discovered that a walk is a series of steps going in the same direction. So we are talking then, about a life in which we habitually choose to follow the desires of the Spirit and then by natural course, leave the lusts of the flesh unfulfilled, and growing weaker.

is a famous list of seven fruits of the Spirit. If we identify these desires and submit to them, we will be well on our way to walking after the Spirit. So far we have discovered that Love, Joy and Peace are not just a state of mind, or a random occurence, but are the results of choices we make. We choose to exercise love, embrace a state of joy, pursue peace or remain patient and longsuffering.

As we continue through this list, we come upon the word gentleness. This comes from the Greek word that is also translated kindness or goodness.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 88.67 χρηστεύομαι; χρηστότης, ητος

χρηστεύομαι; χρηστότηςb, ητος f: to provide something beneficial for someone as an act of kindness—‘to act kindly, to be kind, kindness.’

χρηστεύομαι: ἡ ἀγάπη μακροθυμεῖ, χρηστεύεται ‘love is patient and acts kindly’ 1 Cor 13:4.

χρηστότηςb: ἐνδύσασθε οὖν … χρηστότητα, ταπεινοφροσύνην, πραΰτητα ‘you must put on therefore … kindness, humility, gentleness’ Col 3:12.

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. χρηστότης

χρηστότης, ητος, ἡ (χρηστός; Eur., Isaeus+; ins, pap, LXX; OdeSol 11:15; ApcEsdr 2:21 p. 26, 13 Tdf. [acc. χρηστότητα]; Philo, Joseph.) gener. ‘usefulness, helpfulness’

① uprightness in one’s relations with others, uprightness—ποιεῖν χρηστότητα do what is good (Ps 36:3 do טוֹב [37:3 Mt]) Ro 3:12 (cp. Ps 13:3). But this pass. belongs equally well in 2 below, for the reason cited in χρηστός 3.

② the quality of being helpful or beneficial, goodness, kindness, generosity

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Good, Goodly, Goodness

chrestos (χρηστός, 5543), said of things, “that which is pleasant,” said of persons, “kindly, gracious,” is rendered “good” in 1 Cor. 15:33, “goodness” in Rom. 2:4. See EASY.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Kind

2kind adjective

14th century

1 chiefly dialect: AFFECTIONATE, LOVING

2 a: of a sympathetic or helpful nature

b: of a forbearing nature: GENTLE

c: arising from or characterized by sympathy or forbearance 〈a kind act〉

Romans 8:15 KJV 1900

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

We as believers have been adopted by our heavenly Father. Part of our calling is to be holy as He is Holy. In other words, to follow the Spirit rather than the flesh is to be more like our adopted Daddy. He has called us to love, to joy, to be peacemakers, to demonstrate his longsuffering, and to be gentle or kind just like Daddy. We are to demonstrate the gentleness that God has wrought in our hearts to a very harsh and mean world. We are to introduce the sweetness of God to a very sad world. We are to be daddy’s little helpers.

Be Kind Like Daddy

He is kind, affectionate and loving to a lost and dying world.

Acts 14:17 KJV 1900

Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

Jeremiah 9:24 KJV 1900

But let him that glorieth glory in this, That he understandeth and knoweth me, That I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: For in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

Luke 6:35 KJV 1900

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

He is sympathetic and helpful to His own people.

Isaiah 63:7 KJV 1900

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, According to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, And the great goodness toward the house of Israel, Which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, And according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

ia 63 7

Isaiah 54:8 KJV 1900

In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; But with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, Saith the Lord thy Redeemer.

isa 53

Be kind like Jesus

Compassionate

Matthew 9:36 KJV 1900

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 14:14 KJV 1900

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Matthew 20:34 KJV 1900

So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

matt 2

Giving

Acts 20:35 KJV 1900

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Empathetic

Hebrews 4:15 KJV 1900

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Be Daddy’s Little Helper

To miss this is a sin.

Proverbs 14:21 KJV 1900

He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: But he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

prov

Proverbs 11:16–17 KJV 1900

A gracious woman retaineth honour: And strong men retain riches. The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

Now Be kind

Ephesians 4:32 KJV 1900

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Titus 3:4–5 KJV 1900

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 2934 The Kind Bishop

In Les Miserables, Victor Hugo tells of Jean Valjean, whose only crime was the theft of a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s starving children. After serving nineteen years, he was released from the galleys. Unable to find work because he had been a convict, he came to the home of a good old bishop who kindly gave him his supper and a bed for the night.

Yielding to temptation he stole the bishop’s silver plates and slipped out, but was soon caught and returned. The kind bishop said, “Why, I gave them to him. And Jean, you forgot to take the candlesticks.” Jean was astounded at such kindness, and this brought about his salvation. A little deed of kindness can turn a sinner to the Saviour.

—Adapted

titus 3