GROWING IN LOVE & KINDNESS
(Seven
Supplements to your faith Part VI) II Peter 1:1-11
If
you don’t think the world is hungry for kindness, consider this. In 1982 Berkeley
writer and activist Anne Herbert coined a simple phrase: Random Acts of
Kindness (RAOK). The idea took root, then took off. In 1992, a book by that
title was published promoting this thought: “Imagine what would happen if there
were an outbreak of kindness in the world, if everybody did one kind thing on a
daily basis.” The book became an instant best-seller, spawning such things
as: An annual RAOK Week- Participants
are encouraged to do things like shovel their neighbor’s drive way, adopt a
stray animal, treat your local police officer to coffee, write an encouraging
note to your teacher and to your pastor etc. In 1997 more than 500 communities
in five countries celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Week. Why stop there?
In a world where there is so much of hatred,
self-centeredness and selfishness one-person personified kindness, that was a
humble catholic nun named Mother Theresa. Can you imagine what would happen if
each of the members of Hope Church did one kind thing in our community on a
daily basis and encourage others to do so? Let’s practice kindness.
For the past several
weeks we have been following a series titled, “Seven Supplements to Your
Faith,” based on the second letter of the Apostle Peter. 2 Peter 1: 5-7 “For
this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to
goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to, Self-control,
perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual
affection; and to mutual affection, love.” We have looked with great interest at
the following supplements such as goodness, knowledge, self-control,
perseverance and godliness. Today we will wrap up our series by looking into
the final two supplements, Brotherly kindness and Love and see how they impact
the way we live and relate to one another.
I. GROWING IN KINDNESS:
The
dictionary definition of kindness: It is the quality of being friendly,
generous, and considerate. In the OT the word Kindness was defined as an
attitude of love which contains acts of mercy. In King James Version we see the
word, “lovingkindness” which captures the full meaning of the word. Keeping
these definitions in mind let’s look at what Peter meant when he urged the
believers to supplement “brotherly
kindness to godliness.” The Greek word Philadelphia used here comes from two words, philos (friend) adolphos (brother).
In NIV it is translated as, “mutual affection” In ESV, “brotherly affection.”
In NASB, “brotherly kindness.”
In the NT it was used to
describe the love of Christians to one to another, brotherly love out of a
common spiritual life. Why was this a big deal for the Christians of Peter’s
time? Just to give you the context in which this was written: The believers were
persecuted for their faith, they were exiled, and scattered among several
provinces in that region. Christians must have been a minority group, fellowship
must have been sparse and scarce. It was tough to be a Christian.
Let’s say a group of Americans
Christians were exiled to Iraq. How would they feel in that strange country,
among people of strange food and customs? What if they found a few Americans, how
about if they came across American Christians, even more so some Baptist
Christians, would they not be ecstatic, affectionate and loving towards each
other?
You get the picture, of
what was it like then for the persecuted, perhaps a minority Christians who
were dominated by people of other customs and religious ideologies. Under such
circumstances Peter was urging believers to supplement brotherly kindness to
their godliness. They were not only to love their fellow believers, fellow
countrymen but all people in general. Which is very much the heart of God, who
loves all people and wants all people to be saved. In our passage in II Peter
1:5-8, we won’t find the scope and specifics of how to let this brotherly
kindness be expressed however by reading, other passages in 1st and 2nd Peter we
can find a path way to grow in kindness in general. A few scriptural examples
of brotherly kindness. I Peter 1:22, “Now that you have purified yourselves by
obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another
deeply, from the heart.” I Peter 4:7-8, “The end of all things is near.
Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love
each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
These two scriptures
tell us that, all those who are born again Christians must be sincere in their
love for their fellow Christians, they are not to love superficially but from
the depths of their heart. The end of all things is nearer now than when the
Apostle Peter wrote these letters, therefore we got to be alert, be mindful, be
committed to pray but above all we are to love our fellow brothers and sisters
in the family of God deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. What
an encouragement for us to be kind and loving to one another.
How is brotherly
kindness manifested? Remember Kindness is love in action, therefore it has to
be reflected more in actions than in words. If you go to the foundation of
Random Acts of Kindness you can find a whole range of activities to show kindness
to people. I would like to show you what biblical kindness looks like. There is a beautiful story of kindness in II
Samuel chapters 9 and 10. It was that time when the kingdom of Saul became the
kingdom of David.
All the household of
Saul was killed including David’s best friend Jonathan. Now David was a
sovereign king over the entire kingdom, but he had not forgotten the promise he
made to his friend Jonathan. So, he
asked his officials, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I
can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
Through further inquiry
he found out that there was still a son of Jonathan; he was lame in both feet.
David sends Ziba the servant who was taking care of Jonathan’s son and had
Mephibosheth brought to the palace. It was interesting to observe the dialogue
between the King David, and Mephibosheth who considered himself a dead dog of
which has of no value whatsoever to its master, due to his lameness in his
feet. Yet David decided to show kindness to both Mephibosheth, and the servant
Ziba, they were given all that belonged to Saul and his family, and Mephibosheth
was granted access to the King’s dining table as long as he lived.
This is a great example
of showing kindness not merely in words but through actions especially to those
who feel rejected and undeserving. David’s acts of kindness in a small way resembles
God’s kindness to us. While we were dead in our transgression God sent His son,
and his name is Jesus. He offered himself on the cross of Calvary, paving the
way into His presence. Though we were undeserving, out of the kindness of his
heart Jesus is inviting all of us to gain access into His Everlasting Kingdom.
Our kindness to others is the outflow of God’s love in us.
II. GROWING
IN LOVE
After
encouraging the believers to supply six supplements to their faith he tops it
with the seventh one called love. This supplement of love is in essence the
most important of all because out of which everything else flows. You and I
will never know how to love others unless and until we receive and continue to
grow in God’s love, his everlasting and unconditional love. Much can be said about God’s love, for want of
time I will look at how God manifested his love and how are we to display our father’s
love in His world. Our God is extravagant! When it comes to pouring out his
love over sinners like us, he will not hold back anything.
The believed disciple
John, who once basked in God’s love, has something to tell us about the depth
of God’s love and the enormous responsibility that comes with it.
I John 3:1, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” Let’s pause
on this for a moment. Is it beginning to sink into you, that when you gave your
heart to Jesus you became a child of God? John emphatically reminds you, that’s
what you are! You are God’s son and daughter. In a broken world that is
starving for love, we the children of God are called to display our fathers
love.
How are we to do it?
Both in words and deeds. I John
3:16-18, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid
down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers
and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and
sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love
of God be in that person? Dear children, let us
not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” God is displeased when people religiously worship
him merely by their words, while forgetting to love people through their deeds.
The OT prophet Micah has
a profound message for all of us today. Micah 6: 8, “He has told you, O man,
what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love
kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Love God and man are inextricably connected.
It has been my joy in
exploring this series with you. As we wrap this up let me remind you of the seven
Supplements again. They are there for a reason. Knowing about them alone won’t
help us. But when we supply them in abundance and in increasing manner to our
faith, I guarantee that by the power of the Holy Spirit we will become productive
and successful.
Here is the list again: 2
Peter 1: 5-7 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith
goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to,
Self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness,
mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” My prayer is that as we leave
this place we will make a resolve to apply this teaching in our daily lives, so
that we become healthy disciples and a healthy Church. Amen
