Kindness (part 2)

Kindness is a surprise, and kindness also has a direction.

Kindness leads somewhere. The Bible puts it this way: “God’s kindness is intended to lead us to repentance” (Which means changing our minds about God.) [Romans 2:4 NIVUK]

Here’s the way another translation puts it: “God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.” [Romans 2:4 MSG]

Kindness leads us to change. It is meant to melt our hearts and lead us to a new world with God.

Have you ever experienced kindness like that? Sometimes kindness is challenge. Sometimes it’s not soft, although it’s always tender-hearted. I don’t think you can be ‘cruel to be kind’ but you can be ‘bold to be kind’.

Kindness isn’t the way we expect power to work… but it’s what we see in the life of Jesus:

“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’” [Luke 19: 1-10 NIVUK]

Zacchaeus was shown kindness by Jesus, and the kindness led to a turnaround in his life. He’d been known for working for the hated occupying power, Rome, and for lining his pockets with extra money defrauded from people in collecting taxes. He was also known for being short. But a bit of him had enough of a desire to see Jesus that Jesus saw him – saw through the money, the fancy clothes, the jewellery or whatever else rich people spent their money on in first century Palestine – Jesus in kindness says ‘I think I’m safe to say you got enough food in your house for me… I’m coming over for dinner.’ 

To come into someone’s home in that culture was to value the person whose home it was. It was to say, I accept you. I am willing to be associated with you. I am willing to accept that you have something to give to me. Think about it, all Zacchaeus has ever been known for was taking from people. Jesus is saying, you’ve got something to give me.

The invitation is one to a different kind of life. It is kindness because it carries that hallmark of being unexpected – a twist in the usual story. And it is kindness because it leads to Zacchaeus changing his mind. Reevaluating his life, his priorities, his relationship with God. 

Jesus’s kindness is extended today. He says to Zacchaeus – quick! I must be a guest in your house, today! There’s no time to waste for Jesus in showing kindness. It’s for today! He doesn’t want to wait until tomorrow, He doesn’t need time to think about it, He is sure that today is the time for kindness. 

[This post and the previous one are taken from a message I gave at St Mary’s church in August 2019. I felt now would be a good time to reshare it. Hope it was helpful!]