Daily Devotions for Difficult Days [91] Sonnet of Love (5) Love is Kind

Random Acts Of Kindness

There is, believe it or not, a website called random acts of kindness, where participants are called "raktivists"; work it out for yourself! Many suggestions are made for how one can show kindness to different kinds of people. 

For example, one could leave a basket with drinks / snacks for delivery drivers with the sign "Please take One" in your porch, and so on.

What is common with all the suggestions is that kindness is defined as an act, small or large, done for someone else.

As we make our way through 1 Corinthians 13 we've come to kindness:

"Love is patient. Love is kind...."

What then is Christian kindness? Is it the same as the kindness encouraged by randomactsofkindness.org?

Well, on the one hand yes. When Paul was shipwrecked, the locals showed him and his fellow mariners kindness: "The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold." Acts 28:2

Building a fire and welcoming people on a rainy and cold day is an act of kindness.

But Christian kindness goes further.

Kindness begins with God

Christian kindness begins with God. I mean by that, God's kindness sets the gold standard or example. Here it is:

"God has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” Acts 14:17

Kindness is God providing his creatures with bountiful gifts - kindness is about giving gifts small and large.

But kindness is more. Lorry drivers serve us. The world towards whom God shows kindness does not love God. So Christian kindness is especially acts towards those who do not deserve it. Here is the height of kindness:

"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared." Titus 3:4

God sent his Son to redeem thankless sinners and rebels - that is the highest act of kindess ever shown. So kindness is giving to people who do not deserve it:

"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."  Luke 6:35

So, yes, helping out delivery drivers may be an act of kindness, but they are serving us. A more God-like act of kindness would be to serve a neighbour who is cold towards you.

Kindness comes from God

And the moment we describe it that way, we see that kindness comes from God. No-one can show kindness to an enemy unless the Spirit of God lives within them. Kindness is a divine gift:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness." Galatians 5:22

Here we drift away from the kindness the world may offer. Christian kindness is directed towards those who may not be nice or kind to us, it has the tinge of sweet grace about it.

I was told about a Christian woman who ran a Christian organization. She heard that a member of her team was speaking against her - behind he back, of course. What did she do?  She bought her a gift: that is kindness.

So Christian kindness may often be aimed at those who do not "deserve it."

Christian Kindness expects no (earthly) Reward

Out there in the world - and we all have a little of this in our own hearts - people hope for a reward, sometimes even expect a reward, for their acts of kindness. But Christian kindness expects no earthly reward, but is looking forward to an eternal "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

Christian kindness never expects a pat on the back, a letter of thanks, a public acknowledgement.

Encouragement is a wonderful gift in a church. Where people encourage one another with words of thanks genuinely given.

But kindness gives without expecting a reward.

Summing it All Up

How can we sum all this up? Kindness is like the world's version: it is always acts both small and large which bless the another.

But Christian kindness is different from "do-gooder" kindness. It is aimed not just at nice people who serve us, but difficult people who may hate us. And it expects no earthly reward  - but instead looks forward to an eternal reward in heaven.

We're all encouraged by the writers of the New Testament to develop the gift!

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Epheisans 4:32

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

There are few more important ways we can show our care and love for one another in these days of apartness than by acts of kindness. Let us thoughtfully consider how we may show kindness not only to believers but also to the world, and become more like the God who sends sunshine and rain on unbelievers as well as believers.

Who can I be kind to today? Who in my home, my homegroup, my church, neighbourhood?

A SONG FOR THE DAY

Some of you will remember this sweet short chorus about the kindness of God.

Thy loving kindness
Is better than life.
Thy loving kindness.
Is better than life.
My lips shall praise Thee,
Thus will I bless Thee.
I will lift up my hands up
Unto Thy Name.

I lift my hands up unto Thy Name.
I lift my hands up
Unto Thy Name.
My lips shall praise Thee.
Thus will I bless Thee.
I will lift up my hands unto Thy Name.

Hugh Mitchell

You can sing HERE.

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Loving Father of kindness,

We acknowledge you as the source and spring of all kindness. We are amazed at how kind you are to a rebellious world that ignores you every day. And yet you send them both sunshine and rain and fill their hearts with joy with your bountiful gifts.

Thank you for your kindness to us.

Forgive us for our lack of kindness, all too often.

Help us to be kind to our brothers and sisters and to the needy world around us, so that your name will be glorified in  all the earth.

We ask these things in Jesus' Name,

Amen.