Patient, Forgiving and Kind
1 Thessalonians 5v14d-15
18th March 2022
We've been looking at:
1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, warn [admonish] those who are idle, encourage the timid,
help the weak, be patient with everyone.
We've looked at Paul's instructions to warn [or admonish] those who are idle [or undisciplined], to encourage the timid and to help the weak over the last few weeks. Paul next says, "be patient with everyone".
Many Christians are a bit lazy. Many are timid. Every Christians you'll ever meet is weak, one way or another. Be patient with them all. God is sanctifying us, making us more like Jesus. We 're all works in progress. It often seems a very slow and gradual process. But God is patient with us. Let's be patient with each other.
Maybe your brother or sister has had the same sinful attitude for years. We may need to admonish him. But let 's continue to love him. Your brother or sister may still be annoyingly slow, or loud, or wrong, or selfish, from your perspective. Be patient. God is on his case.
And Paul writes:
1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind [seek
to do good] to each other and to everyone else."
Deep in the fallen human character lies the desire to do unto others what they've done to you. Let them know how it feels. Get your own back. They've been unkind to you, it can feel almost like a duty to teach them a lesson. Paul tells us to make sure we do no such thing. Jesus said:
Matthew 5v38-42
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'
But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right
cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as
well.
If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to
borrow from you."
A worldly person can't understand this, but a follower of Jesus understands that we're called to trust in God, to love our neighbour, even if our neighbour hates us, and never seek revenge. Elsewhere, Paul said:
Romans 12v18-21
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is
written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay", says the Lord.
On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him
something to drink."
Being kind to people who are unkind to us is alien to this world, but it seems to me that kindness is the mark of a true Christian. And Christian kindness doesn't discriminate between those who love us and those who hate us. We're called to love everybody, and be kind to everybody.
Baby Christians say unkind things, and sometimes do unkind things, and often miss an opportunity to be kind. Let us grow up into mature Christians, who seek to be kind, seek to do good to others, all the time. Not only to other church members, not only to Christians, but to everybody.
Christian kindness comes from almighty God, and it speaks of the character of almighty God. Perhaps somebody will find saving faith in Jesus because you found a way to show him kindness.