The Fruit of the Spirit
Try a Little Kindness
(Kindness)
Mark 10:13-16
After confederate General Robert E. Lee retired from the military, he was named president of Washington Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, originally named Washington Academy because of a gift from George Washington. The name was changed in 1871 in honor of General Lee.
While Lee was president of the university, a new student came into his office and asked for a copy of the school’s rules and regulations. Lee looked at him and said, “Son, we don’t have any rules and regulations in print.” The young man said, “You mean this school has no rules?” Lee replied, “Yes, we have only one.” He said, “What is it?” Lee replied, “Our only rule is kindness.”
Kindness is one of those character traits of Jesus that shows up in the list we are studying called “The Fruit of the Spirit”. Not only does the list provide us with nine character traits exemplified in the life of Christ, it also reminds us of what is produced in our lives when we are under the control of the Holy Spirit.
And I would say the quality of kindness is the one that shines the brightest when viewed against the backdrop of our culture today. Think about what has become common behavior in our culture:
It’s not uncommon to be cut off and cursed or worse because of road rage. The entertainment industry is filled with violence and hatred. Political campaigning continues to sink to new lows with slurs and lies. Sports contests are marred by fights and cursing the umpire or referees and players. Just this week, the news featured a man in Alabama who shot and killed a school bus driver, taking a 6 year-old boy hostage. Neighbors told of his patrolling his yard with a gun, cursing at children and beating a neighbor’s dog to death with a lead pipe.
It is impossible to ignore the growing harshness of American life.
That’s why I say kindness shines so brightly. Any kindness is demonstrated stand distinctly separate from what has become the norm in our world’s culture.
I went into my computer, got on the internet, and typed in the word kindness and hit “search.” And in contrast to what I’ve just described, I found, among many things, that there is an organization called “The Kindness Society” who is striving to spread kindness by following a simple rule: do not think, speak, or act unkindly toward others.” There is a “Care and Kindness” Society who’s goal is to demonstrate through words and actions, the extraordinary power and importance of simple human kindness.
It is not unusual to hear about “random acts of kindness” where strangers on the street unexpectedly show kindnesses to others. Many of you remember Glen Campbell’s hit son ”Try a Little Kindness”. Some of the lyrics are:
“If you see your brother standing by the road
With a heavy load from the seeds he's sowed
And if you see your sister falling by the way
Just stop and stay you're going the wrong way
Don't walk around the down and out
Lend a helping hand instead of doubt
And the kindness that you show every day
Will help someone along their way
You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets”
Everybody can relate with kindness and everyone can respond to kindness. Mark Twain once said, “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can read.”
Just what is kindness? The word itself literally means that which is “good,” “helpful,” or “suitable.” It literally means “to be gracious to others.”
As I ran over in my mind what kindness really was, I came up with this definition: kindness is treating others the way God has treated you. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:32, “and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.”
Now as I thought about kindness, I thought about an incident in the life of Jesus which not only shows us kindness, but teaches us valuable lessons on the kindness that God expects from us.
It is one of the tenderest, sweetest, and yet very familiar incidents in the life of Jesus, and it dealt with his relationship to little children and in how Jesus relates to children, we get to see kindness in action.
Mark 10:13-16
Notice, first of all,
1. Kindness is Seen in Our Lord
verses 13-14
Now everyone assumed that the Lord who walked on water, healed the sick, raised the dead, and fed the multitudes, had no time for babies and children. But he did. In fact, scripturally speaking, you will never find Jesus turning anyone away who came genuinely seeking Him. He always had time to be involved in their life.
Remember Jesus Christ was God in the flesh, and contrary to the world’s perception of God, God is kind. You see, somebody’s lying on God because Psalm 117:1-2 says, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud him, all you peoples! For his merciful kindness is great toward us.”
Without question, one of the hardest parts of Scripture to want to obey is the part that tells us to love our enemies. But do you know why we are told to love our enemies? Because that’s just like God!
After all, God loved you didn’t He? And I can guarantee you it was not because you were so lovely! The Bible identifies us as the enemies of God. We are intent on doing our own thing. We don’t want any of God’s rules. We will be our own boss, and to do that puts us in rebellion against God.
And yet, God loved us and sent His Son to die on a cross for us so that He could call us friends!
And Jesus said in Luke 6:35, “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.”
When you think about that God is kind not only to those who are evil, and don’t deserve his kindness, but those who are unthankful, they are not even grateful for it, that should tell you something about kindness.
And we demonstrate that God is our Father when we are kind, especially to those who are unkind.
Whatever else you would say about her, when Mother Teresa’s life ended in 1997, the world lost one of the kindest people who ever lived.
She did many acts of kindness, but one stands out in particular. She was working among the slums of Calcutta, dressing the wounds of a leper.
An American tourist observed her work and asked if he could take a picture. She granted permission, and the tourist framed his shot. Through the camera’s lens he could see this world renowned nun tenderly replacing a bloody bandage that covered a gaping hole where the leper’s nose used to exist.
The photographer could also smell the
stench of this wound as he moved in for a closer shot. After capturing several pictures, the American tourist said, “Sister, I wouldn’t do what you’re doing for $10 million!”Mother Teresa replied, “My friend neither would I!”
Listen: God wasn’t kind to you because of what was in it for Him. He was kind because of His compassion and tenderness toward sinners who were lost and on their way to hell.
But God is not only kind to the sinner; God is also kind to the saint. Think about this:
It is the kindness of God that supplies salvation. God’s kindness sent his Son to die for my sins.
Titus 3:4-5 says, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit”
God’s kindness leads me away from sin to
salvation.
Listen to Romans 2:4: Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
God’s kindness reserves a home in heaven for us.
Ephesians 2:7 tells us it is in “the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
If you are truly saved, you cannot help but be kind, because the God of kindness lives in your heart.
2. Kindness is to be Shown in Our Life
Now our English translations tell us that children were brought to Jesus. Some even say young or little children. And the original language leaves us a little bit of room for interpretation because the word for children that is used can mean anything from a new born baby to a mature child or even having child-like intellect.
And I think the word is used to emphasize a young, immature child as opposed to a mature adult. And I think the significance is we are to handle people’s feelings the way we handle little babies; with kindness, gentleness, and tenderness.
One of the great lessons of leadership I most of us need to learn is that tenderness can motivate people to do things that toughness never can.
There is an Aesop’s fable in which the wind and the sun were arguing over who was the stronger. The wind said, “Do you see that old man down there? I can make him take his coat off quicker than you
Can.”
Well, the sun agreed to go behind the cloud while the wind blew up a storm. However, the harder the wind blew, the firmer the old man wrapped his coat around him.
Eventually, the wind gave up and the sun came out. He began to smile kindly upon that old man. Before long the old man mopped his brow, pulled off his coat, and strolled on his way. The sun knew the secret: warmth, friendliness, and a gentle touch are always stronger than force and fury.
I believe with all of my heart that one of the greatest marks of leadership is kindness. It is nice to be important, but it is more important to be nice.
One time Abraham Lincoln was sitting at dinner in the White House with some very elegant people. But there was one man there who was not so elegant and he didn’t have or know very good manners. That man took his coffee that had been poured into his cup, blew on it, poured the coffee into his saucer, and drank out of the saucer.
Well, some of those refined ladies sitting around the table were aghast. For a moment there was an embarrassing silence, that Abraham Lincoln, seeing what happened, took his coffee, poured it into the saucer, and for the rest of the evening he also drank his coffee out of the saucer.
I want to urge you to take every opportunity you can just to be kind to other people. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”
You have probably never heard of Stephen Grellett. He was a French-born Quaker who died in New Jersey in 1855. He would be unknown, except to the most serious history students among us except for a few lines which are very familiar to most.
He said, "I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."
Now I suppose it is well and good to talk about how Jesus was kind and how we ought to be kind and show kindness and do kind deeds and all that, but allow me to be a little more specific.
3. Kindness is to be Shared with our Lips
Don’t miss the emphasis of verse 16. He didn’t just take them up, give them a quick kiss and send them on their way. He “blessed them.”
Everyone has a kindness kit that they carry with them everywhere they go. It’s in their mouth and it’s called the tongue. Never underestimate the power of just a kind word.
Incidentally, understand that kindness is not only how we are to act, it is how we are to react. You see, it is one thing to be kind to a friend. It is another thing to be kind to an enemy. It is one thing to be kind to those who like us. It is another thing to be kind to those who don’t. Many of you remember the old cartoon that you used to read in the papers called Sluggo and Nancy.
Well, Sluggo was talking to Nancy, and he said, “That new kid in school is nothing but a big fathead!” Nancy said, “You shouldn’t call people names like that. I never call people names.”
Sluggo said, “Well, I just got mad when he said you were stupid looking.” Nancy said, “What else did that big fathead say?”
It is so important, as much as we can, to be kind not only with the deeds that we do, but with the words that we say. Now please understand that kindness is not softness. What I mean by kindness is not a sentimental indulgence that tolerates wrong and evil in other people.
Suppose I go to the doctor, he examines me and he discovers I have a tumor. Now if he says, “I don’t
want to cause this man any pain. I don’t want to upset him in any way. I don’t want him to leave here hurt or discouraged.” So he brings me back into his office and says, "Everything looks great”
He’s not really being kind to me. He’s being unkind. That doctor, if he is to be kind, is going to tell me the truth, and he’s going to try to remove that tumor regardless of how much it may hurt.
Sometimes kindness means not only confronting the sin of others, but condemning the sin in others. But even that is to be done in kindness.
Galatians 6:1 says, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest
you also be tempted.”
You see, there are ways to let others know their faults and make a point without being harsh and mean. You can make a critical point with a kind comment. A calm demeanor will go a lot farther than a harsh comment and an ugly tone of voice.
I know some people who just seem to delight in being obnoxious. They brag about how they just “let the chips fall”. They’re outspoken and they want everyone to know it. They just speak their mind.
Listen: if that’s you, there is nothing virtuous or Godly or spiritual about that. It’s just sheer immaturity on the part of a Christian to open their mouth and give evidence they know k=nothing about being under the control of the Holy Spirit.
I heard about a man that was standing in line to buy to an airline ticket. When he got up to the counter he
Said, “I would like to buy a ticket to New York City.”
The ticket agent said, “That is no problem. How many pieces of luggage do you have?”
He said, “I have three.”She said, “Do you want all three checked to New York?”
He said, “No, I want you to send the first suitcase to phoenix. I want you to send the second suitcase to Seattle. I want you to send the third suitcase to London.”
The dumbfounded clerk looked at him and said, “Sir, I’m sorry, but we can’t do that.”The man replied, “Why not? You did it last week.”
Always react and respond with kindness. Let me give you one more thought before we finish.
4. Kindness is to be Sown by Our Love
It is not coincidental that we read that Jesus “took them up in his arms and laid His hands on them.”
We all know that song: “Jesus loves the little children.” What you are seeing in this passage is love in action, which is exactly what kindness is.
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:4, “Love is kind.” Sometimes love is heard in a kind word. Sometimes love is read in a kind note. Sometimes love is felt by a kind touch. Someone once wrote these words:
God is looking for people who are willing to participate in acts of love and kindness to those outside of their present circle. He is looking for people who believe that a humble demonstration of love plants a seed of eternity in the hearts of others that will blossom into faith in Christ.
Let me show you an example from the life of Jesus found in Matthew 8. If you were here a few weeks back on Sunday evening, you will remember we talked about a leper who came to Jesus seeking healing. And in his conversation with the Lord, we find one of the most amazing statements in the entire Bible.
This leper came to Jesus and verse 3 tells us, “Then Jesus put out his hand and touched him.”
That was unheard of. Lepers didn’t come to anyone. They avoided everyone. Jewish law required it. They were contagious and they had to cover their mouth and shout “unclean” and not come in contact with another human.
And to be sure, nobody touched them voluntarily. That was, without question, a touch of kindness.
Dr. Paul brand is a leprosy specialist. He served for a time as a medical missionary in India. IN one of his books, he told of one bright young man he was treating and in the course of the examination, Dr. Brand simply laid his hand on the patient’s shoulder and told him through a translator of the treatment he was going to give him. To his surprise, the man began to shake with muffled sobs. Dr. Brand asked his translator, “Have I said something wrong?”
When the translator asked the patient why he was crying, the translator turned to Dr. Brand and said, “No doctor, he says he is crying because you put your hand around his shoulder. You are the first person who has touched him in all the years he’s had leprosy.”
Dear friend, in his kindness, God reached down and touched me as an 18 year-old boy when I was covered with the leprosy of sin. He swept me up into His arms, laid His hands on me, and blessed me with forgiveness and salvation. In that spirit of kindness and in the name of Jesus, when we meet fellow saints and fallen sinners on the highway of life, we are to try a little kindness.
Let’s pray.
