Song Numbers

Love Is Kind 1 Cor. 13:4

Longsuffering and kindness are two sides of the coin of character Longsuffering = we hold back from doing something hurtful Kindness = we do something useful

Longsuffering turns the other cheek while kindness holds out a hand to help

1 Cor. 13:4 “Love… is kind” Kind = to show oneself mild, to be gracious “Kindness can be expressed by our words and by our actions. Before kindness can sincerely be expressed by our words or actions it must first be in our hearts.” (Bob Winton)

“Kindness is doing for others what we would want done for ourselves (Mt. 7:12).”

I. Love has a kind mind

Phil. 2:5 [5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Rom. 2:4 [4] Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Luke 6:35 [35] But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

I have wept in the night, for the shortness of sight, That to somebody’s need made me blind: But I have never yet felt a twinge of regret For being a little too kind.

II. Love has a kind tongue

Proverbs 31:26 [26] She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Proverbs 16:24 [24] Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

A hobo knocked on the door of an English inn called George and the Dragon, and a woman opened it. “Could I have a bite to eat?” he said. “No!” screamed the woman, slamming the door. He knocked again and the woman opened the door. “Now could I have a few words with George?”

Proverbs 12:18 [18] There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Many people are lonely in old age because they spent a lifetime building walls instead of bridges

If someone were to pay you a dollar for every kind word, and collect fifty cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?

III. Love has kind hands

Love does kind things – 1 Jn. 3:16-18 [16] Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. [17] But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and

shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? [18] My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Rebecca showed kindness to Abraham’s servant – Gen.24:18-20 [18] And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. [19] And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking. [20] And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

Acts 10:38 [38] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

[41] And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Love is not just a kind feeling, but an action towards others – Mt. 5:40-41 [40] And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. [41] And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Proverbs 31:20 [20] She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

Proverbs 19:22 [22] The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.

2 Pet. 1:7 [7] And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

Eph. 4:32 [32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Col. 3:12 [12] Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering

“Kindness is the chief foreman in the shop of good works.”

Who would have been more likely to convert the man who had been robbed – the priest, the publican or the Samaritan?