What’s the difference in kindness and goodness? Kindness is more about our attitude and goodness is more about the things we do for others. Some people are born with a kind, gentle personality. This may come natural to them. But others have to lean on the power of the Holy Spirit to help them be nice. How many of you need the Holy Spirit to help you to be kind and nice? : )
Even if you are naturally kind, that doesn’t mean that you are using this good nature to do the work of God. The fruit of the Spirit are developed in us so we can show God’s nature to the world around us.
1. You have to PUT ON kindness and goodness. It’s something you wear that day, by choice.
A. To be KIND AND GOOD is always a CHOICE, not a reaction.
Colossians 3:12-17
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
B. You have to be dressed properly in the Spirit.
C. You have to PUT IT ON. You have to do it on purpose.
D. Goodness:
Most of the scriptures on goodness refer to God’s goodness.
Goodness is in God’s nature and when you do good, you are doing God’s work. Goodness is Godness.
1. You get to act like God.
E. 2 Samuel 9:1
1 Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s
sake
1. We say, is there anyone I can show kindness to for God’ sake. I just want to show the nature of God to someone.
F. Any time the word kindness is used in the Bible it’s accompanied by the word “show.” Kindness is in your heart, but you have to show it. You can’t just feel it and think it, you have to take action steps.
G. The Apostle Paul said, I want you to excel in the gracious gift of giving. I want to be a giver, not a taker. I want to be generous.
I’ve heard it said.
If you want happiness for an hour take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day go fishing.
If you want happiness for a month, buy a new car.
If you want happiness for a year- win the lottery.
If you want happiness for a lifetime – be good to people.
2. You have to TAKE OFF HURT in order to PUT ON kindness and goodness.
Ephesians 4:26-32
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
A. Some people want to be good and kind but they have too much pain in their heart. Pain will make you self-centered. It will make you protect yourself and will cause you to put yourself before others. It doesn’t mean you are bad or mean, it just means that you are so scared of getting hurt, that you will not allow yourself to put others first because of the fear that someone will take advantage of your, hurt you or betray you.
B. When does anger become sin? Verse 31 tells us that anger becomes sin when it becomes “evil.” The way to get rid of anger is to clamor. That means to talk it out. Sometimes you have to talk out your anger before you can be kind and good to others. Do this in a safe, healthy place.
3. JUST DO IT!
The Bible says, Jesus went around doing going and healing the sick. Before He ministered, He did good to people.
A. Everywhere we go we should look for opportunities to be good to people.
In traffic, let that person in.
In the grocery line, that person has fewer items, let them up in front of you.
Someone drops something and you pick it up.
Take your co-worker a cup of coffee.
This is a better way to live than just trying to always get something for yourselves.
Remember the Gifts of the Spirit are given, but the Fruit of the Spirit is developed.
