Theme: And Love Is...? (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

LOVE IS KIND

In Aesop’s fable, The Lion and the Mouse, a Lion was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying:

“If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness.” The Lion laughed, knowing the Mouse could never repay him, but he let him go. It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came and gnawed the rope with his teeth and set him free.

The moral of this story is stated in the last line of the fable:
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” 

Kindness in scripture is most often equated with love, and is usually interchangeable with mercy and goodness.  Kindness is the visible action of love directed toward others.

First of all, God is kind to us, so we should be kind to others.  Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Kindness is also a fruit of the Spirit.  Many years ago I learned the fruits of the Spirit by thinking of them as actual fruits.  I can still see that picture in my mind today.  Of those 9 “fruits” listed in Galatians 5:22, kindness (an apple in my picture) is right in the middle. Kindness is the fruit of the Spirit that holds us together.

The 13th chapter of I Corinthians tells us what love is (and isn’t.)  But the 13th chapter cannot be separated from the 12th chapter, in which Paul addressed the arguments that were going on in that church regarding spiritual gifts.  He tells us that nothing is as important as love, “And now I will show you the most excellent way.”  First on the list…love is patient and kind.  Kindness was lacking in the Corinthian church. It wasn’t kindness that made one believer look down upon and criticize the gifts and abilities of another. Kindness is not the spirit that produces strife and hard feelings in the Church, or in the family, or in the world.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:12-16.)

Several years ago Randy used this scripture in one of the first sermons he preached at our church. I think he quoted it from memory; then he said “Now that’s church.”  There were other scriptures in that series of lessons about which he made the same point. I marked them all in my Bible with a little drawing of a church steeple, and I’ve thought about them and re-read them many times. They all have something to say about the way we should treat one another with kindness.  And about the love and unity and peace that is church.

It’s easy to be unkind.  There are television news shows and specials all the time about high school, middle school, and even grade school children bullying other kids. And it seems to me that there are more “reality” shows on tv now than any other type of program. Some of them are pretty entertaining. But in most of them the winner is not the kindest person in the contest.  For the most part the top players in reality television are the unkind ones, never hesitating to say or do something rude, crude, or mean to get to the top.

Speaking of shows, an all time favorite movie of my family is “Lonesome Dove.”  Tommy Lee Jones plays Woodrow Call. He and his partner, Augustus McRae played by Robert Duvall, lead a cattle drive from Texas to Montana.  A memorable line in the movie is when a soldier is bullying a couple of Woodrow’s men.  Woodrow comes to their defense, and afterwards he says “I hate rude behavior in a man. I just won’t tolerate it.” Our culture tolerates rude, angry, unkind behavior. No one really likes this, but it has become so commonplace that we seem to have just accepted it.

We are told in I Peter 3:8-9 not to tolerate or accept rude, unkind behavior.

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

As we treat people, both inside and outside the church, with mercy and kindness they will be able to see Christ in us. And we will inherit the blessing.

Dear Lord, I know I often fall short of the standard you have set. Help me to love others more, to be always kind, to be gentle rather than harsh, and to be merciful and generous.  May I be salt and light through Jesus. Amen

Lynn Anne Hughes

Stephenville, Texas