Unnecessary Kindness

Giving Your All

Unnecessary Kindness

In Ephesians 4:32 we find this: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

When we are kind, we show kindness. What I want to talk about is unnecessary kindness. What I mean by “unnecessary kindness" is kindness going on beyond what one might think is enough. Or is this even possible in what God requires of His children?

How much kindness can we express to be known and called a kind person? And now a similar question. How much compassion must we express so God would call us a kind people? Is there a difference between how we see ourselves and how God sees us?

I think of unnecessary kindness as an act of service within our means that goes beyond what might have been necessary for that person's needs.

We can give kindness to someone with either a grudging or willing attitude. The receiver of the kind action may be thankful without knowing the giver's perspective. How would God see the act of kindness as an act of worship to Him? With a grudging attitude, would God be pleased and accept the act as worship? I think not.

The given verse said, "be kind and compassionate." An attitude here means an intense feeling or emotion of the giver of the act of kindness. This feeling or emotion must precede the giving of the act of kindness.

We do not worship God if we have no willing emotion to produce the action.

My thought for "unnecessary kindness" concerns the emotion that prompts the gift of kindness. In Jesus' story of "the good Samaritan," the Samaritan had compassion for the person in need. Because of his mercy, he provided kindness to the person in need. This was Unnecessary Kindness because it went beyond what was needed. He might not need to pay for his expenses and then pay for the balance still owed when he came back, but the Samaritan was not leaving this in doubt for the innkeeper. The Samaritan was having compassion for the innkeeper also. This compassion may have been "going the extra mile," so he is our example of giving unnecessary kindness.

6/26/2020

Larry E. Whittington

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