Kindness | Bob's boy's Christianity blog





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There is a lot going on much in the 6th chapter of Luke, and much to learn from it. But here I want to focus on verses 32-36. It is a “love even your enemies passage. But is so much more than that. It is about doing good. Let’s look closely, beginning in verse 34:

if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, …for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

English: The evangelist portrait from the Gospel of Luke (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Clearly, “lending” to those who are in need without expecting anything in return is valued greatly by the Lord. Being charitable is one of the hallmarks of Christianity. But it goes further that giving food, clothing, or even money. It also encompasses mere kindness.

Perhaps that seems obvious. But how easy is it really? And how easy is it to violate that principle? How often do we “snub” someone else without even realizing we are doing it. Sometimes we all do so, I have no doubt. In business, it is often said that it shows great character when someone is kind and helpful to those who can do nothing to improve that person’s career.

It is the same principle in everyday life. God will judge how we treat those who may not possess the character or ability to treat us as we would like.

/Bob’s boy

Bible Reading Schedule for this month
Click links below to read or listen to audio of one of this week’s chapters in Colossians and Luke

Luke 2, Luke 3, Luke 4, Luke 5, Luke 6

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

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All of my comments in this blog are solely my responsibility. When reading any commentary, you should always refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word.

Grove of olive trees at Bethany

Chapter’s 29-31 make up Job’s last speeches. In this one, Job remembers how happy he was before all of these troubles began. He looks back longingly to those days, believing that God was with him then – and that such is no longer the case (verses 2-5). In verse 6, he remembers “when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil.” This is likely a reference to his great wealth, which included much cattle and olive groves.

Job fondly remembers that he had his own place at the city gate (always the gathering place for the important men of a city in those days). He was respected and deferred to by the young men as well as the old – and even the nobles and princes (verses 7-10). His thoughts and opinions were valued, and many sought his counsel. He then spends some time remembering how he helped the poor, the orphans, the lame, and those who were oppressed by the unrighteous.

As he speaks of all of these things, he does not do so in a manner that is boastful or vain. And he does not long for such times simply because he longs for the respect of his station in life. Job was happy in those time because of the good that he was able to do to others. We were made to serve to serve God, and to serve our fellow-man. Of the things that he has lost, being deprived of his health and his wealth, as well as being held in disdain and shunned by others has cost him something much more dear. Job has been deprived of his ability to serve, and he knows what many of us never learn. We are happiest when we serve others.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy

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some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog. All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility. When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com. For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.