Being Kind?

 

Every once in a while, I see someone that is sacrificially kind to someone else.  They give up their seat to a pregnant woman. They help an old person with a chore. They make a meal for someone going through a tough time or sacrifice their time to visit someone sick. God wants us to be kind to each other, and to treat each other with dignity and honor. 

Let me ask a question. If you knew someone who hated you, who despised you, and treated you with disdain, would you be kind to them? It seems it is easy to be kind to some people. It is easy to be kind to those who can't help themselves or are burdened with life for no reason of their own. Even Jesus really had a heart for the sick, the outcast, the widow, and the orphan. So, it is natural that we feel the same way. But, what about someone who hates you? 

As I was reading in Isaiah today, A short verse really caught my attention:

"Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart's desire is to glorify your name. In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right. Your kindness to the wicked does not make them do good. Although others do right, the wicked keep doing wrong and take no notice of the Lord's majesty." (Isaiah 26:8-10, emphasis added)

God is kind to the wicked. He is kind to those who ignore him, hate him, reject him, and despise him. AND it makes no difference to them. It does not make them change from their evil ways. They don't even give it a second thought. They keep doing wrong and take no notice of the Lord's majesty. God KNOWS it won't change them. Yet, he continues to love them. Remember these verses:

"For while we were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person -- though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die -- but God shows his love for us in that while were were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8)

Christ died for the ungodly that they MIGHT have eternal life. There is not guarantee they will accept his kindness. Many, many people have ignored this perfect sacrifice. Yet, he did it anyway. God is consistent. He is kind and loving to all of his people. He wants to save all of us. He doesn't want anyone to perish. So he is kind and loving even to those who reject him. 

Should we do the same? Should we be kind to those who hate us, believe differently than we do, and reject God? By the example of God Almighty, YES, we should live as he did and be kind, sacrificially kind, to those whom we might classify as evil. 

Go out of your way to find someone to be kind to today! Love them as God loves them. Even if you are confident they would not love you!