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Religion
Show Some Kindness By Pastor Phillip Howle web posted August 25, 2010 RELIGION – As I start to write this morning I have a piece of toilet tissue stuck to the top of my lip that has a nice red dot of blood in the center of it. Why? Well, I have a little spot on my lip, a little bump, that has been there forever. It is completely unnoticeable, so don’t stare at my upper lip please. But, the problem is that I sometimes cut it shaving. Then it bleeds for an hour and every time I take the toilet tissue off, I start to pour blood. So it is better that I leave the tissue on a long time. The problem then becomes that I get so used to the tissue on my face and then head to church. No big deal when I am in my office, but then I go out in public with this tissue stuck to my lip that tells folks; evidently I just started shaving last week. It is a little wound that is clearly obvious for all people to see on my face. You know all people have little or big wounds in their life. We all have problems, sorrows, sadness, worries, fears, doubts, etc. But when people ask us how we are, how do we respond? Good, fine, or at worst, alright. Most of us do not walk around with our hearts on our sleeves for the world to see, nor do we truly desire to know or understand the emotional hurts and needs in the lives of others. So with everyone walking around smiling and lying, we believe the lie, and feel that everyone but us really is fine, which further isolates and intensifies our hurt and loneliness. The truth is, not very many of us are fine. Life is tough for everyone. Depression is very real. Ed Welch, writing in Tabletalk Magazine 2008 says there are at least five different causes of depression. “First, we can cause our depression. Our own sin, unbelief, commitment to our interpretations instead of searching for God’s interpretation, can all be causes of depression. Second, other people can cause our depression. A steady diet of discouraging words from people who are supposed to love us, or sexual violation and its shame can certainly contribute to depression. Third, our bodies can cause depression. Our bodies can’t create hopelessness or loss of purpose, but they can disrupt sleep, fog our thinking, and cause us to have the physical feelings of depression. Fourth, Satan, arguably, can cause depression. He can afflict the body and heap accusations on the sensitive conscience. Fifth, God is over all things, including suffering and depression. We can say that He allows it, and we can say that there are times when He ordains it.” So, what should we do for each other? Though there are many things we can do for each other, I want us to focus on just one, be nice. Each person struggles and has problems. If you saw someone trying to walk with crutches, carry shopping bags, and open a door, you would quickly run over to help out. So, if you assume each person could use the same kindness and encouragement and look for ways to help them, think of what a difference you could make. Jerry Bridges writes that “We need to develop a kind disposition, to be sensitive to others and truly desire their happiness. But sensitivity alone is not enough: the grace of goodness impels us to take action to meet those needs.” He goes on to write that “Kindness is a sincere desire for the happiness of others; goodness is the activity calculated to advance that happiness. Kindness is the inner disposition, created by the Holy Spirit that causes us to be sensitive to the needs of others, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Goodness is kindness in action – words and deeds.” (The Practice of Godliness, NavPress, 1996, p. 189-191) Sadly, instead of this we see what the German philosopher Schopenhauer described when he compared the human race to a bunch of porcupines huddling together on a cold winter’s night. He said, “The colder it gets outside, the more we huddle together for warmth; but the closer we get to one another, the more we hurt one another with our sharp quills. And in the lonely night of earth’s winter eventually we begin to drift apart and wander out on our own and freeze to death in our loneliness.” Life does not have to be like this! Jesus Christ has given us an alternative—to forgive each other for the pokes we receive. That allows us to stay together and stay warm. We are fragile, weak people but so are snowflakes, and look at what they can do when they stick together. We need each other, we are God’s hands and God’s feet, so let’s take that seriously and show His love and kindness to all that we encounter each day. Let’s live out what Paul writes in Galatians 6:2 “Carry one another's burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Please play nice! Pastor Phillip © Copyright 2010 EdgefieldDaily.com All original
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