“Fruit of the Spirit - Kindness” 

**INTRODUCTION 

Hello and welcome to the “Key to the Kingdom.” My name is Bret McCasland. If you were asked to list the most important character trait a person could possess, what would be your answer? Words like generosity, compassion and patience quickly come to my mind. Another one at the top of many lists would be kindness. Kindness is demonstrated by people who love others. By their words and actions they bless other people. And the key thing is such people do not focus on themselves. They think about others and are concerned about their well being. They share their time with those who might be lonely, overlooked or who have few friends. Today on “Key to the Kingdom,” we will look at the importance of practicing kindness. It is definitely one of God’s greatest qualities, and it is to be seen in the lives of those who are God’s children. Sometimes however, being kind to others may not come naturally. It is a challenge to be kind to unkind or to ungrateful people. Yet, we continue to practice the example the Lord left for us to follow. Those are some things we will talk about for the next few minutes. I invite you now to join us as we open our Bibles and study together.

**LESSON

In our lesson last time, from the Fruit of the Spirit series, we talked about the Fruit called patience. And for many of us, including myself, that was a hard lesson to hear. Perhaps it is the one Fruit of the Spirit with which we struggle the most. And we struggle with it in hopes of growing in that particular Fruit and making it an important part of our daily life with the Lord. Well, I want to start in 1st Corinthians chapter 13 today. It is a familiar passage to many of us. We call it the great chapter on love. But it's interesting in that chapter how Paul list some 16 qualities or characteristics of love, beginning in verse 4. And the list begins this way; love is patient, love is kind. And then he proceeds to list the other 16 qualities. Now, when I look at that, I realize that without patience and without kindness, love is incomplete. Paul seems to suggest, once we figure out how to practice patience it hopefully leads us to practicing kindness. And that is the very thing we find here in Galatians chapter 5, the Fruit of the Spirit. Kindness comes after patience. And that is what we talk about today, Fruit number five, kindness. If others do not see us as being anything else, hopefully they will see us as being kind people. And that is one of the best things we could ever do, whether we call ourselves Christians or not. You know, the idea of kindness is to be more thoughtful of others than we are of ourselves. It is to help and to love and to encourage other people. It is to do something that will benefit and bless someone else. Kindness goes beyond a duty or an obligation. Kindness is not something we have to do, but rather it is a choice we make to do something good. And that act of kindness is done without expecting to be acknowledged, without expecting to be paid for what we've done. Kind deeds are done by those who are kind people. It's not a term that would describe the, describe something that we do, a certain action; but rather, it describes the character of a person. And that is basically what we've been talking about in this series on the Fruit of the Spirit. We're talking about the character, the qualities that are to be found in those who walk with Jesus. Well, the Spirit brings Fruit into our lives, and that fruit is the very character of God, Himself. And as we are being led by God's Holy Spirit, it changes who we are. It changes how we live. We are being filled up with God's Spirit on a regular basis because He lives in us. And as it is with these other qualities or characteristics, kindness begins with God. In the Old Testament, the Lord is referred to as demonstrating loving kindness in so many ways. And that comes from the Hebrew word ‘hesed.’ In fact, that word has several different meanings; for example, faithful love, compassion, loyalty. And that is how God is described throughout the Bible. Let's look at some examples of that. We see it in Joel chapter 2, verse 13: <He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving kindness.> To the nation of Israel, God spoke these words in Isaiah 54 and verse 8: <"With everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you."> We find also this in verse 10: <“Though the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, My loving kindness will not depart from you and My covenant of peace will not be broken, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”> Here's another Old Testament passage: Isaiah 63 and verse 7. There the prophet wrote, < I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which He is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us -yes, the many good things He has done for Israel, according to His compassion and many kindnesses…> Typically today, we don't use the word kindnesses very often. But yet, when we pause to consider the compassion, the faithfulness of God, indeed, He demonstrates those kindnesses to us on a regular basis. The Lord is even described this way in the Gospel of Luke chapter 6, verse 35: <“The Lord Most High is kind to the ungrateful and wicked…”> That might surprise us. You mean the Lord is kind to those who are wicked? He offers His compassion to those who are ungrateful? Even though they might receive that, they don't acknowledge God for it? You know, if God is kind to those people who do not want to have anything to do with Him then what does that tell us about how we are to treat such people? The kindness of God was displayed in a very beautiful way by King David. The story begins in 1st Samuel chapter 20. There we read about a friendship that David had with King Saul's son, whose name was Jonathan. Well, King Saul did not like David. In fact, he pursued him. He oftentimes thought about how he could kill David. And yet David still had that bond and that relationship with Jonathan. Today, we might say that Jonathan and David were best friends. And they enjoyed spending time together. In fact, they even made a covenant with one another. David said to Jonathan, if something happens to me, please take care of my family. Jonathan said to David, if something happens to me, please take care of my family. What a connection. What a friendship. Well we fast forward to 2nd Samuel chapter 9 and we find David now in the role of the King of Israel. King Saul has been killed, and so has his son, Jonathan. And now David sits upon the throne; and we find these words beginning in that 1st verse of the 9th chapter. <David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “At your service,” he replied. The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.” “Where is he?” the king asked. Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.” So King David had him brought from Lo Debar. When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “At your service,” he replied. David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all of the land of your grandfather Saul, and you shall eat at my table, always.”> Three times in this one passage, we find the word kindness. David did something he did not have to do. King Saul was dead. No longer was Saul a threat to David. And now Jonathan, David's best friend, had been put to death, also. Jonathan would not know whether or not David would follow through on that covenant pact they had with one another. In spite of all of that, David did follow through. And he wanted to know, who is left of Jonathan's family to whom I can show God's kindness. And this young man, crippled in both feet, came to him and he was able to receive that blessing and that kindness, because David said, now you are going to be with me in my household and you will sit at the family table and we will enjoy fellowship and meals together. What a beautiful display of kindness. You know, lots of bumper stickers and lots of t-shirts advertise a number of different things, a number of different events. And we see those all the time. We're familiar with those stickers and those t-shirts. Maybe we even wear them ourselves. I noticed one the other day that had two words on it. It simply said, Be Kind. What a great advertisement. Just be kind. Just be kind. And yet, Christians really do not need bumper stickers or t-shirts to remind us of what we are supposed to be doing. We are to follow the example of David. We are to demonstrate the very character of God. I want us to consider for just a moment some ways in which we might be able to show kindness to someone else. Maybe we can donate some food or clothes to those who are poor or homeless. Perhaps we can visit those who are in the hospital, who are sick, or who have some other kind of problem. Maybe we can even donate some money to assist those who have been affected by natural disasters. Perhaps we can pause long enough to pray for, or to encourage, someone who is having a really hard time. You know, those are some things which can really bless someone else. It may not take much effort on our part. It may not require us to spend a great deal of money. We don't have to do those things, but yet we want to do those things. We choose to do that because we are kind people. And those are little things. We don't get any recognition for them. We don't get repaid for the time or for the effort we put forth. But we give our time and our money in order to show kindness. You know, sometimes, you know this as well as I, it is not easy to be kind. And why is that? Is it because we think we are too busy to be kind to someone else, that we think our time is too valuable or we are too important to get involved with someone else? Is it because we think that if we do show kindness, then that will lead to a bigger commitment that we make to some person and we really don't want to go that far? Maybe it's just hard to see the value of being kind to certain people. Kindness is to be part of our Christian character, if we want to follow the example of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son. It is a Fruit that is to be cultivated so that it becomes part of who we are and it becomes representative of the One to whom we belong. As we grow in our relationship with the Lord and as we allow His Holy Spirit to overtake our life, then the Fruit of kindness will be seen in our life. Here are some other passages that remind us of what kindness is to look like in those who belong to the Lord. Isaiah 1 verse 17: <“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”> Isaiah's words teach us to show kindness and justice to those in our society who might be vulnerable. That includes those who are orphans or widows, or those whom we might consider to be overlooked or neglected by the rest of this world. Here's another statement, Proverbs 19, verse 17: <“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done.”> Helping those who are needy is something the Lord highly values. When we serve those who are less fortunate, we are actually serving the Lord, Himself. He notices that, according to the text, and He will reward us for that. The Apostle Paul wrote this in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 29: <“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”> Kindness is not only about our actions, what we do, but also kindness revolves around the words we speak; and the words we speak to others can either build them up or tear them down. How many times do we find ourselves talking about other people behind their back? How many times do we talk, even in front of them, about their inability to do this or that, or what we really think of them? And those words oftentimes hurt. They damage that person and they tear them down. Instead, as Paul wrote, we are to build others up. We are to say those things that benefit those who hear our words. Here's another passage from Paul. It's found in Colossians chapter 3: <“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”> Clothe ourselves with those characteristics. We put them on for others to see. We display those characteristics in our lives. And one of the best things we can do is to practice those five things, even with our own family members. Yes, kindness begins at home, doesn't it? These actions can transform our relationships. They can make our homes into places of peace and harmony. Hebrews chapter 10, verse 24, reads like this: <“Consider how we may stir up one another to love and good deeds.”> Kindness can be expressed through words of encouragement and good deeds which inspire other people to do the very same thing. And then these words are found in the 13th chapter of Hebrews: <“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”> Showing kindness to strangers is simply part of living a Spirit filled life. It may not be the most comfortable thing to do, but when we do it God will bless us for it. You know, those six passages state basically the very same thing: kindness is much more than a nice gesture. It is a reflection of God’s character and a vital part of the Christian life. Kindness is demonstrated by God’s actions toward us and by His command to love others. There is one demonstration of kindness, which I have saved for the very end. It is the greatest display of kindness that has ever been shown. It is not found in those who practice the passages that we have already noticed and read today, but this act of kindness is found in God, Himself. And the Apostle Paul describes it, in Titus chapter 3: <“When the Kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy thru the washing of new birth and renewal of 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.”> The greatest act of kindness ever displayed in this world is when God sent His one and only son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sin. Nobody had ever done something like that before. Nobody will ever do something like that in the future. But God, as Paul wrote, was kind, and He sent His son, Jesus, for our salvation. In each of these Bible passages, we've noticed something, hopefully, we can put into practice. They help us to demonstrate the Holy Spirit's Fruit of kindness in our lives. You know, as God has demonstrated that kindness to us, we are to share it with others. That might be easy to do, especially among our fellow Christians, as we act and think alike. The challenge comes, however, when we consider how that kindness is to be displayed to those who are not fellow Christians. And that's a challenge, isn't it? It's a test as to whether or not we are really living according to God's Holy Spirit who lives within us. Let me offer just a few practical things we might consider. How do we treat the person who helps or who does not help us at the grocery store? How do we respond when someone says something unkind to us. When one of our neighbors is having a hard time paying their bills, what can we do on their behalf? Do we send a note of kindness to someone who just might be having a difficult day? To demonstrate kindness to others is one of the most important things we could ever do as one of God's children. It is also one of the things we will do if we are walking in step with God's Holy Spirit. And who knows, through a simple act of kindness someone might even begin to demonstrate kindness themselves. They may even want to know the reason behind why we are demonstrating kindness to them; and what an opportunity that would be for us to share the story of God's kindness toward us. Oh, we will never know what a simple act of kindness might do for someone else. And my guest today is that you know somebody, right now, to whom you can show kindness. You know someone who needs a kind word. You know someone who needs a helping hand or would appreciate something special being done on their behalf. It really doesn't take much to make a difference in someone's life. It is a very simple and easy thing to do, that will bless a person far beyond what we might ever know. But I hope that we will make showing kindness to other people a priority in our lives. I want to end today by asking you to consider the answer that you would give to this question. How will I demonstrate the Fruit of kindness as I am led by God's Holy Spirit, today?

**VIDEO CLIP

A number of years ago there was a health bar that came on the market. It was called, and it still is called, “Kind.” Now you can just imagine how that name came about: The founder of that health bar experienced some kindness from somebody else. Well, I'll leave it to you to figure out the rest of those details. But that “Kind” bar is filled with things that are good and wholesome for a person; some nuts and honey and various other things. But that “Kind” bar reminds us to do something kind not only for ourselves, physically, but also to do something kind for someone else. Kindness, that's important, isn't it? It's a Fruit of the Spirit, as Paul describes it in Galatians chapter 5. When I think about kindness, the first thing that comes to my mind is the kindness of God. In His kindness and through His mercy, He sent Jesus to die for each and every one of us. For that I am most thankful. That is the greatest display of kindness this world has ever known. And that kindness is not to end with you or with me. We likewise are to demonstrate kindness to the people of this world. Many people have never experienced anything kind done on their behalf. No doubt there will be opportunities, today, tomorrow, and perhaps every day, for us to see people who need to receive some act of kindness from us. I would trust that as people who are following in the footsteps of Jesus, that we will be people who put the Fruit of the Spirit of kindness to work each and every day.

**CONCLUSION

Thank you for joining us for today's Bible study on “Key to the Kingdom.” Demonstrating the Fruit of kindness is a challenge, especially to those whom we may not know. It is also hard to do that when people seem so unappreciative or when they take our kindness for granted. And yet, when we live with kindness, people's lives are changed. If you would like to hear or to view this message again, it is available on our website; keytothekingdom.com. Many other lessons are also on the website and all of them can be downloaded without any cost or obligation. I hope you will take a few minutes to find those which might be of interest. Short devotional thoughts and one minute messages are there, as well; and they too might be helpful in your daily walk with the Lord. It is a pleasure to share these weekly messages with you. I am grateful you choose to follow us week by week. Thank you again for being with us today. I hope you will join us again next time as we continue to study the Bible on “Key to the Kingdom.”