Kindness and Jesus

This week we have been focusing on kindness as the fruit of God's Spirit.  On Sunday and Tuesday, I spoke about looking people in the eye and meeting them where they are.  I taught these principles because Jesus was a master of meeting people right where they are.  I keep learning.

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8:2-11 NIV)

When the woman was caught in adultery, Jesus treated her with kindness.  This kindness was certainly an undeserved gift (grace), but it was more than just being nice.  He fought the enemy and loved people.  The result of his teaching was powerful: Self-righteous teachers were humbled and a frightened sinner repented.  His final words to here were, "Go...and leave your life of sin."  His kindness was useful in God's Kingdom.

Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?" Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back." "I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true." "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." "Woman," Jesus replied, "believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I, the one speaking to you--I am he." Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?" Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" They came out of the town and made their way toward him. (John 4:6-30 NIV)

Jesus treated the woman at the well with kindness, too.  She had three strikes against her from the start of their conversation.  She was a woman.  She was a Samaritan.  She was living in rebellion against God (in sin).  Jesus knew all three of these things, yet was kind to her.  This kindness opened up a conversation where she finally asked about the Messiah, listened to Jesus claim he was the Messiah, and then she told the whole town.  They came to Jesus because he was kind to one person.  His kindness was useful to God in His Kingdom work.

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. (Matthew 19:13-15 NIV)

Children, women, tax collectors, fishermen and many others received the kindness of Jesus.  The only ones who did not seem to receive kindness were the leaders and teachers of the law who should have known better and been been showing kindness themselves.  In other words, they were supposed to be useful in God's Kingdom work but were more stumbling blocks than help.

So how about you?  If Jesus were here today, would he be showing kindness to you?  Are you kind?  Are you kind to people who do not deserve it?  Is your kindness useful to God in His Kingdom work?  Does your kindness look like Jesus, today?

Kindness and Love

When I first started to prepare the lesson on kindness for last Sunday, I thought I was going to be teaching essentially on how to "be nice."  It was just another attribute, I thought, of a good, moral life walking together with God.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12 NIV)

As I began the study, though, I started to see that kindness was tied to much more than a list of attributes.  For one, it became clear that we give kindness to people because God showed us kindness first - even when we did not deserve it.  In the worst case scenario, kindness given instead of punishment is forgiveness.  Not only is this forgiveness, but it is undeserved forgiveness.  That makes it a gift called grace.

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13 NIV)

The more I read and studied, the more I found the motivation behind it all.  We shouldn't be kind just to be nice.  We shouldn't even be kind just because God was kind to us first.  Our kindness should flow from our perspective in life.  Our perspective should match God's perspective about people.  When we look at people, we should look at them with love.

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:14 NIV)

Each person is a human being that was knit together in his or her mother's womb.  Each one is fearfully and wonderfully made.  Each was given to parents as a gift.  Each is made in the image of God.  Not only that, we are intricately connected to each one in much the same way that the different parts of a body are connected - especially with those who have drawn near to God.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15 NIV)

Our love for God drives our love for people.  Even when the person is nowhere near to God, we love them as being made in the image of God.  That love generates kindness, even undeserved, toward each person.  That genuine love and kindness speaks to them.  It gives them a message.  It tells them, "God loves you and wants to be with you."

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. (Colossians 3:16 NIV)

You see, kindness isn't about just being nice.  Kindness is about being a representative of Christ.  When we are kind, we are showing God's love to people in a real and practical way.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17 NIV)

So, how about you?  Are you kind?  Is your kindness driven by love?

Humble Kindness

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange--I speak as to my children--open wide your hearts also. (2 Corinthians 6:11-13 NIV)

I think the greatest deterrent to kindness is our own self-image. We become self-absorbed with our own tasks, problems, and priorities. We become self-conscious of our own flaws and try to hide them. We become selfish with our own resources and even crave more than we can afford. There is a reason that "I" was a key word in the marketing of computers and electronics: it worked. Our generation cares more about ourselves than our neighbors. Kindness, however, is all about the other person.

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? (Romans 2:4 NIV84)

Ironically, this is where a little honest self-examination could help out. Instead of trying to hide the flaws we put under the microscope, we would do better to come to terms with them looking through the eyes of God. Instead of worrying about our stuff and getting more, we would do well to remember where all this stuff comes from: God. Instead of putting ourselves at the center of the universe, we should recognize that God is already there - only then will all the planets rotate they way they should and the sun will rise and set once again as it did yesterday. We need a little humility. Looking at God will help.

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:3-7 NIV)

When we look at our lives by backing up and looking at God, only then will we realize that our entire life is one big act of kindness. It is a gift. It is God's grace. Only then will kindness make sense to us. We give kindness because we have received kindness from God.

How about you? Does your own self-image get in the way of your kindness? Does the "I" generation stop you from seeing others? When you look at yourself standing next to God, does it humble you? Does God's kindness drive you to be kind?

Kindness as Being Useful

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. (Ephesians 2:1-3 NIV)

Our picture, away from God, is not very promising.  We can try to do good things, but ultimately we fall short of living perfect lives.  When we did what came natural to us, we ended up away from God and deserving punishment.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7 NIV)

God, however, was kind to us.  He sent Jesus, who was also kind to us, came here to become like one of us, and then allowed us to put him to death on a cross.  All of this was an act of kindness, providing a way for us to be forgiven of our rebellion against God.  Now, because of Jesus, we only need to come home to the Father through the Son and we will receive forgiveness of our sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This is offered to us as an act of kindness.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)

Kindness, then, is not just about being nice.  It has a place in God's plan.  It has a purpose.  The Greek word for kindness used in these passages (χρηστότης) is defined in the Strong's Greek Dictionary as "usefulness."  When we are kind, we are being useful in God's plan similar to Jesus.  When we are kind, we are useful.

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

How about you?  Are you kind to people?  Do you do it to be nice?  Do you ask God to use your kindness in His plan?  Are you being useful?

Kindness

We were just cleaning up around the house recently. Part of the cleaning process included moving and reorganizing DVDs and VCR tapes. (Back in my day, DVDs were called Tapes!) One of the tapes had a sticker on it because we had bought it used from a video rental store. The sticker said, "Be Kind. Rewind." I chuckled to myself because we don't rewind at all now. We just start at the chapter we want to watch on the DVD or Blu-Ray. It reminded me, though, of the many ways we use the word "kindness" in our society. Usually we just mean, "be nice."

But the fruit of the Spirit is...kindness… (Galatians 5:22 NIV)

When we read the word in Scripture, however, it takes on a different connotation. Kindness isn't just about being nice to people. It has to do with reflecting God to people. You may have heard the phrase, "You may be the only Jesus that someone ever meets." It's a good concept. It reminds us that, as Christ followers, we are sent by God to be Christ's ambassadors to the world. We are sent as His representatives. When we meet people who do not know Christ, we are there to represent Christ.

We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. (2 Corinthians 6:3 NIV)

I must admit that this sentences causes me to pause. Paul says to the church in Corinth that he and co-ministers put no stumbling block in anyone's path. I don't know about you, but I find that to be a daunting standard to consider. Perhaps that is because I know I have been a stumbling block to people a times. Sometimes they stumble through no fault of my own. Other times, however, I know that the stumbling block is there because of my own shortcomings, limitations, or even sin. I can repent right away and even try to reconcile, but the damage is already done. At that moment, I was a poor representative of Christ.

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; (2 Corinthians 6:3-6 NIV)

So, how about you? Are you kind to people? Does your kindness reach beyond just being nice? Does your kindness represent Jesus well to the people around you?