There’s an old adage that says, “Don’t go looking for trouble.” On the surface, that makes sense. There’s enough trouble coming our way without looking for it. Sometimes people say, “I don’t want to trouble you,” as a way to thank you for offering help.
Recently, a neighbor couple welcomed a baby boy. They’ve struggled with the usual demands of an infant. My wife, Candace, and I decided to deliver a dinner, and they were grateful for the meal. Was this trouble? No, I love to cook, and we prepared two meals. So not much trouble, and our dinner in the bargain.
Yesterday, a long-time pastor friend in North Carolina, said as he drove to church this past Sunday, had to turn into a service station parking lot during a severe rainstorm. Another driver missed the entrance and went into a ditch. He said an old man backed his van up to the ditch, and in the pouring rain crawled under the stranded vehicle, hitched to a tow strap to the frame, and pulled the people to safety.
People from all walks of life offer acts of kindness, but besides something a person does, kindness describes an internal characteristic of a person. For Christians, kindness represents a God-directed inward change, and has eternal value.
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things” (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT.)
Kindness makes demands of the one who offers it, but not to gain the favor with people.
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Matt. 6:1, NIV.)
For the hungry child who is fed, it makes no difference to the child whether the person offering food is a believer or not. To have any kingdom value for the one offering kindness, the acts must emanate from a changed heart filled with God’s love. Salvation is the free gift of God to those who believe, and call Christ Jesus Lord. We can’t earn eternal life through good works.
“If I gave everything I have to poor people, and if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel but didn’t love others, it would be of no value whatever” (I Corinthians 13:3, TLB.)
I see the opposite of kindness as being “nice,” rather than un-kindness. The word nice has several meanings, but the word comes from the Latin word nescius, meaning “ignorant.” This Latin root insinuates indifference: to encounter someone you can help, but decide not to get “involved,” and remain ignorant of their need. God calls us to do more. James described kindness.
“Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don’t have enough to eat. What good is there in your saying to them, ‘God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!’—if you don’t give them the necessities of life? So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead” (James 2:15-17, GNT.)
Sometimes, kindness demands sacrifice to meet the needs of others. Preparing a dinner for a neighbor may take effort, but it’s not trouble. Trouble comes in when a brother or sister has wronged you, or treated you harshly, and you are called by God to be kind and tenderhearted. Yet, in Christ, there is no love without truth. A kindness may include responding to someone with unwelcome honesty, as God leads, with compassion and tenderness of heart, so as to move their heart toward Him.
Even Jesus showed anger at times (see Matthew 23:27, John 2:13-17, and Mark 3:5), and in so doing, acted with kindness. He pointed people to the path of righteousness. He did not sin in His anger.
“You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin” (I John 3:5, NASB.)
What about unbelievers? Their behavior comes from a heart with no thought about the watchful eye of God. God demands kindness of His followers toward them as well.
“If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:46-48, NLT.)
Our kindness must copy that of our Father in heaven, coming from agape love. From a changed heart, a heart obedient to Christ and empowered by the Spirit, believers can offer kindness to those who don’t deserve it, to those who rebel against God, because we know we don’t deserve His kindness either. He showed us kindness when we were unbelieving, rebellious sinners, and he expects the same from His children for others.
“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” (Titus 3:4-5, NIV.
Kindness is a characteristic implanted by the Holy Spirit to remake a heart into the likeness of Christ. We can’t grow kindness by ourselves; it’s not in us to do so. Yet, when we act in obedience to God’s Word, when we spend time in prayer, or assemble with other believers, we cultivate the fruit He has implanted. He did this to lead more souls to Christ.
“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4, NASB.)
This fills me with wonder. The Holy Spirit faithfully works to reshape every believer more like Christ, so that we will mimic Christ in our lives.
“and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance” (Ephesians 5:2, AMP.)
God wants His followers to meet the needs of others with tenderhearted compassion, forgiveness, and sometimes, sacrifice. He wants us to look for trouble.
Exciting, isn’t it!
Selah.