Pastor Richard Waialeale
June 11, 2017 - W1724

We are continuing our series on Life Hacks. The word “hack” is used in reference to entertainment, computers and sports. Pastor Ken and I love to golf, so I’d like to share a story about golf hackers. Two guys are teeing up on the first hole. The first guy takes a hard swing and hits the ball 250 yards. He and his golf buddy then start walking towards the ball and notice it had rolled up on a four-inch anthill.   Teed up on this anthill, he takes a swing and misses the ball entirely, but takes two inches off the anthill. Miracle of miracles, that ball is still on the anthill—true story! He now calls a mulligan. He takes a swing again, and misses again; however, he hits the rest of the anthill, killing 1,998 ants. Two ants are left. One ant says to the other ant, “I don’t know about you, but if we are going to survive, we had better get on the ball!” If you want to survive this message, then you better “get on the ball! 

Today’s topic deals with kindness. There is a story in the Bible about a man who asked Jesus what is the greatest commandment. Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like this: Love your neighbor as yourself,” (Matthew 22:37-39). Jesus is saying your relationship with God and with other people matters the most, even if you are successful in everything else.

Regarding love, Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another,” (John 13:35). Love in action is called kindness, which is a simple spirit-led solution to the struggles of everyday life.   Love in action is not a feeling, it is something you do. God sent His son Jesus, as an example of kindness. As the Bible says, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us,” (Titus 3:4-5). Another scripture says, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you,” John 13:15.

Today, I want to share three principles of how God shows His kindness. Once you understand how Jesus is kind to you, you will be able to apply these principles to your life, and God will bless you as you discover what it is like to walk in the image of God.

1. JESUS UNDERSTANDS MY WEAKNESS.

Understanding someone allows you to be kind to them. Princess Diana said, “Carry out a random act of kindness with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”

I remember a story about Mammy Adams who enjoyed going to her local post office because the employees there were very friendly. One day during the Christmas season, she stood in the long post office line to buy stamps. Someone noticed that she had been waiting in the long line and went up to her and told her that there was a stamp dispenser located outside. Mammy replied, “I know, but the machine does not ask me, ‘How is your arthritis doing?’ or ‘How are you doing today?’” She went on to say, “The post office employees understand me so I don’t mind standing in this long line.”

When we struggle with a temptation or a problem, Jesus does not think less of us because He understands our weaknesses since He experienced the same temptations we do. Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

When John the Baptist baptized Jesus, heaven opened and God spoke, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” (Matthew 3:17 KJV). From that point on, Jesus knew that God was with Him and when He was tempted, He never gave in to sin. It’s not a sin to be tempted; it’s a sin to give in to temptation. The Bible says, “If someone is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that the next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong. Share each other’s troubles and problems, (Galatians 6:1-2).

The application of the first point is to be gentle, not judgmental—be others centered.

A few weeks ago, a homeless woman high on drugs came into the reception area of the building yelling profanity; therefore, Pastor Shon was called to handle her. Pastor Shon took her to his office but because he could not control her, he escorted her out of the building. In the process, he gave her a bag of food. On the way out she asked for clothes, but he told her to return on Wednesday when clothes are distributed. Not liking his answer, she continued to swear at him. The next day, Security alerted Shon that this same lady was across the street at the Mauka Annex. Pastor Shon met her and gave her a shirt. She was so happy that she reciprocated by giving him a big hug. Afterwards, he began complaining in his heart that now he stunk and would have to go home to shower and change clothes! The Lord quickly corrected his thinking, saying, “You have a shower to go home to, she doesn’t. You have many shirts, she has only one.” After God told him this, his head slumped into his chest. So be gentle, not judgmental, and show kindness to people.

A couple of months ago after fracturing vertebra 5 & 6, my mother-in-law had to go to Rehab. A social worker was assigned to help her acquire the necessary services for her rehabilitation. In the process, she told us about two rehabilitation facilities that we could send her to. When she offered Hale Nani, I said “Oh no, not Hale Nani! They have minimal parking and you have to park far away.” The social worker interrupted me and said, “It’s not about you! My Mom goes there and they have the best therapists.” Reflecting on this, I needed to be gentle, and others centered—not judgmental!

2. JESUS FORGIVES MY SINS.

The Bible says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you,” (Ephesians 4:32). This means unless you forgive, your unforgiveness may affect God’s future plans for you.   John Iverson said, “The man who refuses to forgive, destroys the bridge over which he himself must cross.”

George Harrison was a former musician with a group called the Beatles. He and his sister had a rift that lasted 40 years. They had become victims of anger until he got cancer and extended his heart to her. The tragedy is that it took 40 years of silence and cancer before their relationship was restored for healing, reconciliation, and forgiveness to evolve. It is also a tragedy that we wait so long to be reconciled to others and to God. Unforgiveness makes you live in the past; forgiveness unleashes your future!

Kartartizo is a Greek word meaning to mend. Sometimes, God will heal you through worship and through sermons. God mends us; then, He heals and equips us so we can go back into this world and catch fish.

3. JESUS AFFIRMS MY WORTH.

We all want to feel significant and have a meaningful and worthwhile life; therefore, we must know that we matter to God. We matter to God in two ways: First, know that God thinks about you every minute of every day. David wrote, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:16-17).

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:4).

Secondly, God sent His Son to die for you and redeemed you from the empty way of life. Accordingly, the Bible says, “But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us! Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him?” (Romans 5:8-9).

“See, I have engraved you in the palms of my hands,” (Isaiah 49:16).

Psychologists say that people base their self-worth upon what the most important person in their life thinks about them. When Jesus becomes that person in your life, your self-worth will sky rocket, and you will be able to affirm others their self-worth.

“Accept one another…just as Christ accepted you …” (Romans 15:7).

“Show proper respect to everyone,” (1 Peter 2:17).

“Encourage one another and build each other up,” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Ken Blanchard said, “Catch people doing something right and affirm them.”

Here is the application: Jesus says the only thing that you will be judged for is how you treat others. “For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me,” (Matthew 25:35-36).

“In response to all God has done for us, let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind to each other…” (Hebrews. 10:24).

The secret to kindness is to personally experience God’s kindness. You can then take these three principles and apply it to your life. This will allow God to bless you, and you will then know what it means to walk in the image of God.

Questions:

• What is the kindness of God as it relates to your life?

• What will you do to exhibit kindness to others and what is your reward for doing so?

• What plans have you made to grow in your faith?