A Missing in Action Word for Christians: Living Out Kindness

by David Chadwick

Kindness. It is a word that our modern society seems to undervalue and it is a “missing in action” concept in the Christian world.

This week, my exhortation has been to reclaim kindness.

We have talked about remembering how important kindness is, we have talked about how to reclaim it, how to increase a life of kindness and show it to others.

Today, I want to call all of us to action to live out kindness from this moment forward.

Kindness does not come naturally. It has to be remembered, reclaimed, increased, demonstrated to all, and lived out every day.

Unfortunately, in this broken world, human nature is driven to take care of ourselves first and sometimes no one else at all. Some of us will expand care beyond ourselves and into our family, but the majority of natural instinct is to take care of self and to self-protect.

But when Jesus invades a heart, kindness MUST follow. After all, it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  It may be as simple as this truth: Grow closer to Jesus and more kindness will flow in and through you.

Jesus is the epitome of kindness and displayed it throughout his life here on earth. He always saw people through the eyes of kindness knowing they were like sheep without a shepherd. When we encounter the love and kindness of Jesus, it must flow through us to others.

To whom do you need to show kindness today? Someone in your family? Maybe it’s to a friend? Someone in your workplace? Maybe even to an enemy?

As we wrap up, I would challenge you with this question: If kindness is not in your life as a follower of Jesus, can you honestly say that your life is in him?

A Missing in Action Word for Christians: Kindness Toward All

by David Chadwick

Do you know what I think gives the best illustration of kindness in the entire Bible? The story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.

It is one of my favorite accounts in all of Scripture. Let’s look at it together.

If you know biblical history, you know that the Samaritans were derided by the Jews in Jesus’s day. They were absolutely hated. Despised even. They were considered the half-breeds of society.

When the Jews were in captivity in Babylon, many Jews married Gentiles who had been imported into the land. These unions produced the Samaritans, called such because of where they lived (Samaria). Jews had terribly racist attitudes toward the Samaritans and it permeated their entire culture.

Yet in this story of the Good Samaritan, a man was beaten by brigands and left for dead on the side for the road. Here is what makes this story so incredible. It was not a priest or a Levite - the professional religious people - who were the heroes of this story. The hero was a Samaritan!

The one who was most despised in those days was the one who ended up caring for the broken man on the side of the road. The Samaritan man not only stopped to help the battered and bruised individual, he put him up in a room and offered to pay for all of the expenses that would be incurred in the future. This man understood the kindness of the Lord! He was the hero of the story.

Kindness, it transcends human divisions and schisms. It loves outside of human prejudice. It sees ALL people as individuals created in God’s image.

Be kind! To whom? Everyone! All in this world are your neighbors. Yes, even those who hate you and have hurt you. And even your enemies!

Let God’s kindness evaporate all of your prejudice as you realize how much he has loved you in spite of your mess. You will begin to see everyone around you as people created in his image. Intended to be used for his glory.

As you love one another, you are actually loving Jesus!

Think about that, as you are kind to those around you.

A Missing in Action Word for Christians: Increasing Kindness

by David Chadwick

I want to urge all of us toward kindness during these times. Remember it. Reclaim it. And then today’s tip: increase it!

If you want to increase the weight you are lifting at the gym, what do you have to do? You have to add a little more each day. Over time, you will be able to lift heavier and heavier weights. The same holds true with kindness. Practice increasing in kindness a little each day and watch what happens.

Begin by thinking about the ways that people have been kind to you. As you do, kindness will grow in your heart! Then think about the unmerited favor that someone has given you. In doing this, you will desire to give unmerited favor to others.

How about an undeserved gift? Have you ever been given one? I remember when I was in seminary and I found out that someone had anonymously paid for my last year of education. To this day, I have no idea who it was! But it was a surprise display of kindness that allowed me to enter my first church completely debt free so I could fully focus on ministry. There is truly nothing like an anonymous financial gift to display kindness to someone else.

List as many illustrations as you can from your personal life of times when kindness was shown to you. After you make your list, you must first remember to thank God first. After all, he was behind all of these displays of kindness.

Once you have your list, I want you to think about a few ways to show this same kindness to someone else this week! Financially. Verbally. With a simple smile. A gift. Your presence.

Let your increasing kindness multiply and, as you move into next week, try to think of more ways to give it away. Over time, your kindness muscles will grow stronger and stronger!

Remember, if you follow Jesus, kindness is not optional. Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

This is the gospel in action.