Love - Envieth Not

Notes
Transcript

Kindness Takes Humility

1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV 1900
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Being kind to someone else means that by default we are doing something for others and sacrificing something of ourselves.
As we see, love involves humility.
1 Corinthians 13:5 KJV 1900
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Love is lowering yourself to do good things for others.
The act of kindness is one that is not just put to those we like, but also to our enemies.
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.
Note the connecting word “for.” First, Jesus gives us the idea of being loving toward our enemies, and then He explains the reason why, which is that God is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.
Notice a similar connection in the Book of Ephesians.
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.
The reason we can always remember to be kind is because God was always kind to us, even when we were sinners, and we are to imitate God.
Jesus showed us humility by dying for us, even when we were opposed to Him.
Romans 5:8 KJV 1900
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Kindness Takes Service

One dictionary gives this definition for the word translated “kind”:

I play the part of a kind person (full of service to others).

In order to be kind, I must be good to others. I must be a servant.
Matthew 20:25–28 KJV 1900
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Notice again the parallel between ourselves and Jesus. Why should we be ministers and kind to others? Because Jesus came to be a minister to others and Jesus is our perfect example.
John 13:12–17 KJV 1900
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Kindness Takes Practice

The Greek word for “kind” is in the present tense, indicating a continuous action. Kindness is not something to be done once, but practiced and done again and again.
Galatians 6:10 KJV 1900
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Again, we may notice the example of Jesus and how He spent His life.
Acts 10:38 KJV 1900
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
The Christian is not to do good once or twice, but practice doing good. He is to live a life of good works as Jesus did. He is to seize opportunities to do good.
The word has prepared us for good works.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 KJV 1900
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
We are to be rich in good works.
1 Timothy 6:17–18 KJV 1900
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
Practicing love and doing good works will help us to have good days here on earth.
1 Peter 3:10–11 KJV 1900
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
It will also help us to move toward Heaven.
1 Timothy 6:17–19 KJV 1900
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Conclusions

Love is humble.
Love performs kind deeds to those he loves and to his enemies.
Love performs kindness as service to others.
The Christian practices kindness and is rich in good works.
The Christian that practices kindness will have better days here and move toward life in the hereafter.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more