Kindness: Love’s Conduct In 1956 a new type of “modeling clay” for children was invented and began popping up in schools and stores everywhere. Can anyone tell me what this modeling clay was called? In 1965, U.S. Patent No. 3,167,440 was granted to Noah McVicker and Joseph McVicker for a “plastic modeling composition”, (which was originally intended to be a wallpaper cleaner) now called Play-Doh. Little did they know that they had created the substance of childhood memories as well as many a childhood meal, unfortunately. Don’t tell me you never ate any Play-Doh. Yeah, I tried it. The first Play-Doh Compound came only in an off-white color and there was 1 1/2 pound of it in a can. And today over 2 billion cans have been sold since its invention in 1956. So what is Play-Doh made of, you may ask? Many mothers have made it and you know that it contains, among other things, wheat four, water, and salt. But the top secret patented Play-Doh formula is a closely guarded formula of ingredients and so the exact ingredient proportions are not known to the average person. What made it so popular is that this combination of ingredients make it possible for young children to mold it and shape it with their hands without a lot of trouble. This combination of ingredients make Play-Doh soft and pliable and able to be shaped and reshaped, torn apart and lumped back together without crumbling or losing it’s elasticity. As people, even the most decidedly stubborn and ornery of us, have emotions, attitudes, beliefs, values, characters, and dispositions that can be molded, shaped, and reshaped like Play-Doh. And like the patented, top-secret, closely guarded formula of ingredients in Play-Doh, there is something we do not readily think of, that has a profound and powerful softening effect on us, and this is kindness. Today we want to talk about kindness. Let me tell you a story from the Bible that illustrates the power and profound importance of kindness in the molding and shaping of the thoughts and attitudes of an entire nation. This story is found in 2 Chronicles 10 King Solomon had died and his son Rehoboam became King. All the Israelites came to him and said to him: 2 Chronicles 10:4 “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us and we will serve you.” Rehoboam told the people to come back to him in three days and he would give them his answer. He then consulted the elders who had served his father, the wise men who had been with Solomon throughout the years of his reign and he asked them: How would you advise me to answer these people? They told him 2 Chronicles 10:7 “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” Rehoboam rejected their advice and instead turned to his buddies, the young men who had grown up with him, and he asked them for their advice on how to answer the people. They rejected the elders advice to be kind and told Rehoboam to tell the people: 2 Chronicles 10:10b-11 “My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” And this is what he told the people when they came back to for his answer 3 days later. He rejected kindness and chose instead to be harsh and demanding. The tragic consequences: From this point on in history the nation of Israel was divided. Only those in the towns of Judah allowed themselves to be ruled by Rehoboam. The rest of Israel rebelled against his leadership. Tenderness, compassion, kindness, authority and power controlled, would have made all the difference. An act of kindness would have won the hearts of the people. Kindness is powerful. Kindness softens bitterness, it weakens the influence of negative and critical attitudes on our disposition and decision making, it disarms anger, it has power to change the course of one’s life. I do not typically preach 3 point sermons but today I have 3 points I want to make about kindness. 1. Kindness has had a profound effect on the history of humanity. Ephesians 2:6-7 “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” It is through God’s kindness in sending Jesus Christ that the incomprehensible riches of God’s grace have been expressed and nothing has changed human history as has the life of Jesus Christ. Rom 2:4”….God's kindness leads you toward repentance?” It is God’s kindness that gives humanity the opportunity to turn away from sin. It is God’s kindness that compels us to begin to seek after Him and it is through God’s kindness that He softens our hearts and changes our thoughts and attitudes about sin. And nothing has brought greater impact and greater change in a country, a city, a town, a family then people turning away from their sin and making things right with God. And repentance is possible because of God’s kindness. 2. Kindness powerfully affects those receiving kindness and those extending kindness. Prov 12:25 “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” In the story of Rehoboam the Israelite’s hearts were anxious and they needed the mercy, grace and gentleness of kindness. So often the hearts of others, our spouse, our children, our friends, our colleagues are anxious meaning they are heavy with fear, or depression and they need the mercy, grace and gentleness of kindness. Kindness can change a dark mood in a home. Kindness can change the negative sentiment in a marriage. Kindness benefits the friend, child, spouse, the person with an anxious heart. An anxious heart weighed down speaks to depression. A heart bowed down with heaviness. Though the sun may be shining and there are many reasons yet to be joyful a heavy heart is a spirit subdued and melancholy. Depression often is self-condemnation. It blocks initiative by paralyzing hope. A kind word received cheers up, or encourages the depressed but also, which I think we so often miss, is the kind word spoken cheers up the one who spoke the word of kindness. 1 John 3:18-20 “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us.” Prov 11:17 17 A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself. How we act not only is an indication of our character but also changes and affects our character. A kind man benefits himself. Kindness changes us. When we are kind we begin to have a tender spirit and responsive heart for the struggling. We desire to do what is right for others. We become less judgmental and critical and more sympathetic and gracious not only to others but ourselves. I have wept in the night for the shortness of sight That to somebody’s need made me blind; But I never have yet felt a tinge of regret For being a little too kind. Author Unknown One of the surest ways to break out of depressed feelings, depression of the soul and spirit, is to extend kindness to others. 3. Kindness is simple but not easy. Kindness is simple: It is a smile; a wave; a hug; a handshake; Mowing a lawn; baking bread; washing a car; shoveling a driveway; an umbrella in the rain; packing groceries into a car; splitting firewood; scraping a windshield; a cup of coffee; scrubbing a toilet; raking a lawn; breakfast in bed; a flower; a card; cleaning up the kitchen; washing windows Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. Kindness is not easy: Passengers aboard a luxurious cruise ship were having a great time when a beautiful young woman fell overboard. Immediately there was an 80-year-old man in the water who rescued her. The crew pulled them both out of the treacherous waters. The captain was grateful as well as astonished that the white-haired old man performed such an act of bravery. That night a banquet was given in honor of the ship's elderly hero. He was called forward to receive an award and was asked to say a few words. He said, "First of all, I'd like to know who pushed me." Listen to the words of Jesus: Matt 5:40-42 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matt 5:46-47 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? What Jesus is saying is this: For our acts of kindness and love to be powerful, to really demonstrate God’s love, they must be above and beyond the call of duty. They must not be done out of obligation but of generosity. They must not be merely an act of loyalty but of mercy. Kindness under stress; kindness when made to wait; kindness when taken advantage of; kindness when mistreated; kindness when in a hurry; kindness when tired is powerful and life changing. In our families, in our marriages, in our friendships, we demonstrate love through acts of kindness. 1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind. “ Kindness is Love’s conduct. Conclusion: Eph 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another,…” It does not say act in kind and compassionate ways but rather to BE KIND. We are commanded to have the character and disposition of kindness and compassion. The presence of this reality in our lives is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us for kindness is a fruit of the Spirit. 2 keys to being kind people: First Key: Live by the Spirit rather than the desires of your sinful nature. Kindness, compassion, tenderness, and mercy will characterize the life of a Spirit-filled believer. We submit our lives to the lead of Jesus Christ. We confess our weakness to be kind in our own strength and we trust Him to strengthen us to be kind. Second Key: We make every effort to add to our faith kindness. Our twins have learnt how to put their clothes on by themselves. This is great but now they are changing their clothes multiple times in a day, sometimes even in the course of an hour. We deliberately and consciously chose our clothing and proceed to cloth ourselves. Col 3:12 “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,” Kindness is an attitude we put on. A disposition we chose.