The Kindness of God

Have you ever been ridiculed, ostracized, or plain hated for your walk with Christ? The first Christians were and many of the ones we read about in the scriptures died for their beliefs.

I hope that I can live like that. Not that I want to be criticized or persecuted to death, but that I would be willing to die for my beliefs. That I would not back down from them just because someone had the audacity to say something negative about the way I perform my Christian duties and walk for my God.

Many people see me as a closed person, or mean, and angry. I am not really like that at all. I just have some VERY THICK walls and structures in place because of past hurts that I am slowly trying to tear down. These defenses don’t allow people to see the “real” me. They aren’t allowed in my space, yet. That doesn’t mean that I don’t venture out of my space and serve others. I have a very big heart and if someone needs help, I will do what I can to help. My mom used to tell me I wear my heart on my sleeve, even if it isn’t always apparent to those around me.

In trying to do what I can for others to make their life better, sometimes I go to far and I end up getting trampled on and used. I don’t know how to say “No”. That is bad for me and for the person I am helping. I am trying to learn how to do that.

With that mechanic, in my walk with Christ some people in my life criticize me for even the smallest gesture of giving to someone else. They say you can’t help people because something bad will always happen in return to you. They don’t understand why I go out of my way to help others. They want to know why I would care if someone was in need or a service I can and do provide. They say it isn’t your fault that they need things, and they don’t deserve it because they don’t pay you back. Why do you care, they say. You do, do, do, for and have nothing to show for it.

It bothers me when they say things like this because most of what I do is for God, not just for the person I am helping.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

I do it because that is a spiritual gift I have, and I want to use what God has given me.

Almost everyday I hear the negative remarks about my helping others. I have been getting frustrated over it. So, I asked a pastor friend how I would answer the question, “why do you do all these things for other people who don’t care about you and use you?” He said, “You tell them…”

“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” Romans 2:4

God uses His kindness to lead people to repentance. He might use me to lead a person I am helping to Him by my kind gestures. I won’t have to say or do anything, just show kindness.

My Pastor taught in a class I am taking that “Your dignity is not your own.” When you are a Christian, your perceived dignity is Christ’s dignity, honor, and glory. We are a vessel for Christ to use to show His love, mercy, and grace. We are vessels ready for every good work.

“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21

So, every time I help someone it is giving God glory and allowing His work to be done in that person’s life. The person who criticizes me for these things forget (or is maybe jealous), that I am helping someone else, loving them above myself and others. They also (the person who criticizes) daily receive of the kindness of God through me. I pray that soon it will lead them to repentance.

Thanks for reading this blog post. I hope you gain some insight into the heart of God through it. I know I did! God bless you all!

These are videos I made 15 years ago.