Love is Kind
Trey Little | 9-May-10
"Love Is Kind"
I bring you greetings from Rev. Tim Brown and his family as well as the great people from First Presbyterian Church of Vicksburg, MS. I had the great privilege to preach there last weekend--Friday and Saturday nights and then again on Sunday morning. It really was a "Weekend of Renewal" and I am thankful I was given the opportunity to be a part of the weekend.
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class: "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?" One thoughtful little girl broke the silence and said, "I'd throw up!"
What would you do?
Today we are going to take a look at that story as we continue our series on "What's Love Got to Do with It?" as we explore the kindness of LOVE.
Turn with me to Luke 10: 25-37.
"We are now told that automation is a process that gets all the work done while you just stand there. When we were younger, this process was called MOTHER."
"The quickest way for a mother to get her children's attention is to sit down and look comfortable."
"A typical mother, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."
"Mothers can have a few minutes to themselves at the end of the day--doing the dishes."
"There are still a few old-fashioned mothers who would like to tuck their children in bed, but they can't stay awake that late."
"There's only one perfect child in the world and every mother has it."
How would you finish this statement: "My mom is...?"
Some might use words such as: beautiful, pretty, sweet, lovely, servant, funny, faithful, strict, a great cook, stubborn, and perhaps even cool. But there is one word that I know I would use for my mother--"My mom is KIND!"
The reservoir of LOVE within a mother's heart for her children becomes a flowing river through her acts of kindness. There is no law that says a mother has to have a plate of warm cookies sitting on the table for you when you get home from school--but she does it anyway. There is no law that says a mother has to make your bed or wash your clothes--but she does it anyway. There is no law that a mother has to make your favorite chocolate pie on your birthday--but she does it anyway. There is no law that says a mother has to tuck you in and kiss your sweaty, smelly head--but she does it anyway. There is nothing that says a mother is required to look at every creation you ever make in school and say, "I love it--it is the best ever!"--but she does it anyway.
The kindness of a mother has its foundation in love.
Consider the opening words of the great poem of St. Francis of Assisi: "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope..." and so on.
What I love about that poem is its beginning: "Lord, make me an instrument..."
To be the instrument of someone is to be the means of, the method of, the agency of that person. Therefore, to be an instrument of our Lord means that we live in a manner consistent with the character of Jesus--we act in Jesus' place; with Jesus' life and love within each of us (Influenced by E. Stanley Ott; May 4, 2010).
Isn't that what Jesus was trying to teach when He told the parable of "The Good Samaritan?" The "expert in the law" wanted to know what he must DO to inherit eternal life. But see, as an expert in the law, he would have known the answer to his own question--he would have memorized the Shema, which says: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." I think the real issue for the expert in the law--the real struggle--was determining how to be an instrument of Jesus. His real question was: "Who is my neighbor?"
And isn't that the real question for us today?
We know we are to love the Lord. We know we are to be instruments of His love in this world. We know that we are to reach out and care for others and show them unconditional kindness. We know that we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this dark and broken world. We know all that.
What seems to be a bit unclear--or should I say, inconsistent, is who we define as "neighbor." Who are we willing to be KIND to? Should there be a list--a BE KIND TO and NOT BE KIND TO list? Was there for Jesus?
Jesus told of a man who had been robbed, stripped, beaten and literally left to die. A priest came by and "when he saw the man he passed by on the other side." Then a Levite came by and when he saw him he "passed by on the other side." But then a Samaritan came where the man was; "and when he saw him, he took pity on him."
The story goes on to say that the Samaritan showered the injured man with kindness--he did what needed to be done to bring the man back to life--both physically and emotionally. The Samaritan expressed a loving kindness that knew no boundaries.
In March of 2006, while reaching the top of Mt. Everest, a 34 year old engineer from Cleveland named David Sharp became a casualty of unloving neighbors. On his way back down--about 1,500 feet from the summit, he ran out of oxygen. As he lay dying, 40 climbers passed him by, too eager to achieve their own goals to take a chance on using up their oxygen on someone else.
I wonder: are we too eager to achieve our own goals to take a chance on using up our oxygen on someone else?
Friends, there are people around us everyday who are dying--both physically and spiritually. There are people who desperately need a breath of LOVE--and it is amazing how KINDESS can be the oxygen they need.
Listen, there are going to be times when people are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered--love them anyway. There are going to be times when you are eager to achieve your own goals--serve others anyway. There are going to be people who will misunderstand your kindness as a selfish ulterior motive--be kind anyway. You may be kind to someone today and they may forget it tomorrow--be kind anyway. People who need help may be resistant to you or may be stubborn to receive your kind help--be kind anyway. Our expressions of kindness to our neighbors are between us and God anyway--it is never between you and the other person.
Kindness is love in action. Kindness is how LOVE acts to maximize every situation. If patience avoids a problem; kindness creates a blessing. Kindness is proactive. Kindness ushers in joy. Kindness is the ability to love people more than they really deserve. Kindness is the insignia of a loving heart. Kindness is never wasted.
Paul said: "Love is kind." Three action words for the Christian faith.
If you have watched the news over the past week then surely you have heard about a Lance Orton--a New York vendor turned hero. He was the one who took action when he spotted something suspicious coming out of an SUV parked in Times Square. Since then the authorities have arrested their suspect and thankfully no one was harmed in the attempted terrorist act. But what struck me about this story was what Orton said when asked why he did what he did and his response has been replayed over and over again--he said: "If you see something, say something."
Friends, as we head out into our week ahead, I want to encourage you to remember that saying. I want you to keep your eyes open for any "suspicious situations." If you see someone who appears to be down on their luck--say something kind. If you see someone who is upset or angry--say something encouraging to them. If you see a person who is hungry--do something for them. If you see an opportunity to be kind to a neighbor--don't walk by them. Instead, DO SOMETHING.
You know, and I will close with this, Jesus never tells us why the Samaritan helped the man that day. There is nothing in the story that explains his enormous display of loving kindness. Yet at the end of the parable--Jesus did say four very compelling words. He said, "Go and do likewise."
Friends, there is no law that says we must be kind to others--but do it anyway. If the love of Christ is within you--so too is His kindness. Open up your hearts and pour it out!
If possible, begin today with your MOTHER.
AMEN.
I bring you greetings from Rev. Tim Brown and his family as well as the great people from First Presbyterian Church of Vicksburg, MS. I had the great privilege to preach there last weekend--Friday and Saturday nights and then again on Sunday morning. It really was a "Weekend of Renewal" and I am thankful I was given the opportunity to be a part of the weekend.
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class: "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?" One thoughtful little girl broke the silence and said, "I'd throw up!"
What would you do?
Today we are going to take a look at that story as we continue our series on "What's Love Got to Do with It?" as we explore the kindness of LOVE.
Turn with me to Luke 10: 25-37.
"We are now told that automation is a process that gets all the work done while you just stand there. When we were younger, this process was called MOTHER."
"The quickest way for a mother to get her children's attention is to sit down and look comfortable."
"A typical mother, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."
"Mothers can have a few minutes to themselves at the end of the day--doing the dishes."
"There are still a few old-fashioned mothers who would like to tuck their children in bed, but they can't stay awake that late."
"There's only one perfect child in the world and every mother has it."
How would you finish this statement: "My mom is...?"
Some might use words such as: beautiful, pretty, sweet, lovely, servant, funny, faithful, strict, a great cook, stubborn, and perhaps even cool. But there is one word that I know I would use for my mother--"My mom is KIND!"
The reservoir of LOVE within a mother's heart for her children becomes a flowing river through her acts of kindness. There is no law that says a mother has to have a plate of warm cookies sitting on the table for you when you get home from school--but she does it anyway. There is no law that says a mother has to make your bed or wash your clothes--but she does it anyway. There is no law that a mother has to make your favorite chocolate pie on your birthday--but she does it anyway. There is no law that says a mother has to tuck you in and kiss your sweaty, smelly head--but she does it anyway. There is nothing that says a mother is required to look at every creation you ever make in school and say, "I love it--it is the best ever!"--but she does it anyway.
The kindness of a mother has its foundation in love.
Consider the opening words of the great poem of St. Francis of Assisi: "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope..." and so on.
What I love about that poem is its beginning: "Lord, make me an instrument..."
To be the instrument of someone is to be the means of, the method of, the agency of that person. Therefore, to be an instrument of our Lord means that we live in a manner consistent with the character of Jesus--we act in Jesus' place; with Jesus' life and love within each of us (Influenced by E. Stanley Ott; May 4, 2010).
Isn't that what Jesus was trying to teach when He told the parable of "The Good Samaritan?" The "expert in the law" wanted to know what he must DO to inherit eternal life. But see, as an expert in the law, he would have known the answer to his own question--he would have memorized the Shema, which says: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." I think the real issue for the expert in the law--the real struggle--was determining how to be an instrument of Jesus. His real question was: "Who is my neighbor?"
And isn't that the real question for us today?
We know we are to love the Lord. We know we are to be instruments of His love in this world. We know that we are to reach out and care for others and show them unconditional kindness. We know that we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this dark and broken world. We know all that.
What seems to be a bit unclear--or should I say, inconsistent, is who we define as "neighbor." Who are we willing to be KIND to? Should there be a list--a BE KIND TO and NOT BE KIND TO list? Was there for Jesus?
Jesus told of a man who had been robbed, stripped, beaten and literally left to die. A priest came by and "when he saw the man he passed by on the other side." Then a Levite came by and when he saw him he "passed by on the other side." But then a Samaritan came where the man was; "and when he saw him, he took pity on him."
The story goes on to say that the Samaritan showered the injured man with kindness--he did what needed to be done to bring the man back to life--both physically and emotionally. The Samaritan expressed a loving kindness that knew no boundaries.
In March of 2006, while reaching the top of Mt. Everest, a 34 year old engineer from Cleveland named David Sharp became a casualty of unloving neighbors. On his way back down--about 1,500 feet from the summit, he ran out of oxygen. As he lay dying, 40 climbers passed him by, too eager to achieve their own goals to take a chance on using up their oxygen on someone else.
I wonder: are we too eager to achieve our own goals to take a chance on using up our oxygen on someone else?
Friends, there are people around us everyday who are dying--both physically and spiritually. There are people who desperately need a breath of LOVE--and it is amazing how KINDESS can be the oxygen they need.
Listen, there are going to be times when people are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered--love them anyway. There are going to be times when you are eager to achieve your own goals--serve others anyway. There are going to be people who will misunderstand your kindness as a selfish ulterior motive--be kind anyway. You may be kind to someone today and they may forget it tomorrow--be kind anyway. People who need help may be resistant to you or may be stubborn to receive your kind help--be kind anyway. Our expressions of kindness to our neighbors are between us and God anyway--it is never between you and the other person.
Kindness is love in action. Kindness is how LOVE acts to maximize every situation. If patience avoids a problem; kindness creates a blessing. Kindness is proactive. Kindness ushers in joy. Kindness is the ability to love people more than they really deserve. Kindness is the insignia of a loving heart. Kindness is never wasted.
Paul said: "Love is kind." Three action words for the Christian faith.
If you have watched the news over the past week then surely you have heard about a Lance Orton--a New York vendor turned hero. He was the one who took action when he spotted something suspicious coming out of an SUV parked in Times Square. Since then the authorities have arrested their suspect and thankfully no one was harmed in the attempted terrorist act. But what struck me about this story was what Orton said when asked why he did what he did and his response has been replayed over and over again--he said: "If you see something, say something."
Friends, as we head out into our week ahead, I want to encourage you to remember that saying. I want you to keep your eyes open for any "suspicious situations." If you see someone who appears to be down on their luck--say something kind. If you see someone who is upset or angry--say something encouraging to them. If you see a person who is hungry--do something for them. If you see an opportunity to be kind to a neighbor--don't walk by them. Instead, DO SOMETHING.
You know, and I will close with this, Jesus never tells us why the Samaritan helped the man that day. There is nothing in the story that explains his enormous display of loving kindness. Yet at the end of the parable--Jesus did say four very compelling words. He said, "Go and do likewise."
Friends, there is no law that says we must be kind to others--but do it anyway. If the love of Christ is within you--so too is His kindness. Open up your hearts and pour it out!
If possible, begin today with your MOTHER.
AMEN.
