Showing Kindness

Showing Kindness

by Patricia Dailey
Senior Pastor, Bethel Revival Center
43 Norwood St.
Everett, MA 02149

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Joseph's Kindness

Genesis 39:20-21
And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Wherever Joseph went, God blessed him and prospered him — even when he was in prison (see Genesis 37 and 39).

Genesis 39:22,23
And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

Genesis 40:1-5
And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward. And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.

Sensitive to the Needs of Others

Genesis 40:6
And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.

When Joseph came in the morning, he noticed these two men were sad. He could see there was something that wasn't right.

We should be sensitive to the needs of others. When we see someone who is discouraged, sad, downcast, we should take time to stop and talk with them. We can often sense when someone is having a problem. Sometimes it reflects on their face. Other times there is no way of knowing except the Spirit of God reveal it to us. When He does reveal it, we should do something about it.

Let them know the Lord cares, that He loves them, and that we love them in the Lord. Be concerned about the welfare of others, sensitive, and not be afraid to let God use us in whatever way He chooses.

He may want us to pray for them or to bring words of encouragement to them. Or He may want to touch our wallet and have us give them money to help them out.

You should be wanting God to show you when someone is in need. He certainly can reveal this to you and tell you what He would have you to do.

Depending on God and Giving Him Glory

Genesis 40:7,8
And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day? And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

If God gives you a spiritual dream, seek Him for understanding. He can reveal the interpretation to you.

But these two men didn't pray; they said they had no interpreter to let them know what the dream meant.

Even though he was used in dreams and revelations, able to interpret the dreams others had, Joseph didn't say it was something he was able to do in himself. He knew interpretations belong to God. He depended on God for the interpretation, and he gave God all the glory.

I know what it is to depend on God. I cannot preach of myself, but I seek the Lord to give me that which He wants me to preach. He has been faithful in the past, and I know He will be faithful now.

Yes, I serve a faithful God. He is the one who has called me to be a vessel whom He can minister through, and He is the one who enables me to do what He wills.

Genesis 40:9-11
And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; and in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: and Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.

Joseph was right there with the interpretation of the butler's dream:

Genesis 40:12,13
And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.

One thing, when we get through looking at this account, we will see just how accurate Joseph was in interpreting these two dreams. They came to pass just as he said they would in the interpretation. Why was he accurate? Because the interpretations were of God. And there are no mistakes when the interpretations come from God.

Genesis 40:14,15
But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: for indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.

We could learn something from this. Joseph was asking for a favor from the butler. But when we look further, we see the butler neglected to do as Joseph asked him to do.

Genesis 40:23
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

I don't believe Joseph asked the butler for something unreasonable. He had been kind enough to be concerned about these two men when he saw they were sad, and he took the time to hear their dreams and give them the interpretation. And now he asked the butler to show him kindness in speaking in his behalf to Pharaoh.

God's People Should Be Kind

Every one of God's people ought to be kind. They should always be in the place of showing forth kindness towards others.

We are living in a wicked world. Wherever you go, you come across unkind people, cruel people, rough people. One place you find this is amongst those who are dealing with the public. They ought not to be working with people if they can't show any kindness.

There are those who do take time to show kindness in dealing with you. Yet, so often, when you go to a place of business or to a department store, you find those who are very unkind. They're very rough when they have to speak to you. You might say something nice to them, but they turn around and react sharply.

God's people should be a friendly, loving and caring people — a people filled with kind deeds. They ought to be helpful.

There are many in this world who are all alone. They have no family and nobody seems to care. But God's people ought to care. They should be a sensitive and caring people. They ought to be in the place where they are willing to do a favor to help someone in need.

If you know someone in this state, show them the love of Jesus by showing them kindness: doing kind deeds, doing favors to help them in their time of need.

A True Story

Let me relate a true story that a Christian woman told me.

Years ago she had a neighbor who lived next door. When the neighbor's children were young, this woman loved to have them over to her house; she enjoyed them so much.

In time, the children grew up and the neighbor's husband passed away. Now the neighbor woman was all alone. This Christian woman was very kind to her, taking her shopping, and doing many favors to help her out.

Once, when the Christian was going to Florida to see her daughter, she dropped her neighbor off in Connecticut to visit her sister. Later, on the way back from Florida, when she stopped to pick her up, the neighbor's sister said: "Don't bring her down here again! She's too hard to handle."

In time, the neighbor passed away; later, her sister also passed away.

Well, this Christian woman who had showed such kindness to her neighbor got word from a lawyer that the woman in Connecticut had left her a $300,000 annuity!

Kindness pays off. She didn't show kindness to receive anything, but isn't God good? She knew that this had come from God.

Give Out of Love, Not for Reward

Now, I'm not saying for you to show kindness to see if you can get something like that. That was God's blessing. She had no contact with that woman other than dropping her sister off and picking her up again. Yet she was remembered in that woman's will.

We'll be rewarded for the good that we have done, but we don't do good for a reward. We do it from a heart of love for the Lord. God sees what we do. He knows when we do it willingly from the depths of our heart; and He knows when our heart's not in it, and we get impatient or upset.

You know, when you deal with people, and especially older people who can't get around or do things for themselves — when you do something for them — don't look for anything back. Do it from the depths of your heart. Realize that you may have to be longsuffering with them. Don't get short with them. Don't murmur within yourself because you don't want to help them.

If you're going to do anything for the Lord in showing forth kindness to someone, do it out of a heart of love.

Oh, that there would be more who would reach out to help some elderly person who is not able to help themselves. They can't get out of the house. Many times they have to pay dearly just to have someone do their shopping for them or take them to an appointment. And many of them do not have much, so they have to sacrifice something else they might need to pay someone to show them a kindness.

Know that even a little smile or a few kind words can make someone's day. It can lift their spirits.

Let us realize that God looks down upon us and sees what we do for others. He sees how we treat them. Let us do all we can to be kind.

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

Yes, we want to be kind to one another. It doesn't matter whether they are loving and kind, or not. We should be kind to them. Maybe they're a little rough towards us. Maybe they're not just the way we would want them to be. But regardless of how they act, let's show kindness, because God said to be kind one to another.

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

When you're working with someone to show them the love of the Lord, don't be proud and high minded. Do things for them in humbleness of mind and in meekness. Be kind and very longsuffering with them; don't give up on them. About the time you give up, it could be just the time when that person needs you the most.

Just a few words of encouragement, praying for them, showing forth the love of God . . . these things can reflect your light unto them.

Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

This is part of our Christian heritage.

I Corinthians 13:4a
Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind . . .

Why should we want to be unkind towards those we come in contact with? They don't need to hear someone grumbling and being mean. They don't need harsh words. They need to hear loving, kind words. They need to glorify our Father which is in heaven, noting that we are different than those who are in the world.

We should be friendly to others, even if it's just saying: "Good morning! Have a nice day."

Some will appreciate our kind and friendly words, while others may turn their head and walk right by. But that shouldn't stop us from being friendly.

Here in the city areas, people are less friendly than they are out in the country. Country folk will strike up a conversation with you when you greet them. But here, people often look down at the sidewalk and keep walking, or even cross the street when you say "hello."

But that shouldn't hinder you from being kind. Don't stop being kind just because someone snubs you.

I have a friend whom I think must be about the friendliest person there is. No matter where she goes, she is able to start a conversation with someone, especially the elderly.

And that's how we all should be: considerate of others.

Now, don't do things because you expect to receive something in return. That's not why you should be showing kindness. If God wants to bless you by having someone give you something, don't refuse it. And, yes, God will bless us when we do things the right way. But that shouldn't be our motive for showing kindness.

Barzillai's Kindness to David

II Samuel 17:27-29
And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi . . . and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

Absalom had stolen the hearts of the people, and they made him king. And here we find David has fled over Jordan with those who were with him, and Barzillai rose to encourage him.

Look at all that was brought to David this day! Wasn't that a kind thing to do? David didn't forget the kindness Barzillai had shown. Look at the thoughtfulness that was shown in what was brought: such as beds, food and basons. David and his men most likely had been sleeping on the ground.

In those days beds were different than what we know as beds. They were able to pick up their beds and walk. Their beds were mats of some sort that could be laid out at night and rolled up in the day time.

Yes, Barzillai thought of everything because he had a heart to sense the need which David and his men were facing. And he did something about it. Notice, he even brought cooking vessels along with the food, that they would have something to cook with.

They had been fleeing from Absalom and his army, and they needed the things Barzillai brought. They were hungry and thirsty. Then the day came when David was no longer in danger, and he was able to return over Jordan.

David's Kindness in Return

II Samuel 19:31-35
And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan. Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.

And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

Barzillai was 80 years old and didn't want to be a burden to David. But David wanted to show him kindness for what he had done for them when they were in need. Yes, the Lord had used Barzillai to keep David and his men alive.

II Samuel 19:36
Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

David wanted to reward Barzillai for his kindness by having him come back to Jerusalem: and there he would be fed from the king's table.

II Samuel 19:37,38
Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee. And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.

So you see, David was wanting to repay him for his kindness. As I said, we don't look for pay when we show kindness to someone. If God does anything to reward us, just thank Him for it — but don't be looking for reward. It's wrong to show kindness because we expect money or something else in return.

I believe God's people ought to be in the place where they can do for one another without pay. We ought to have enough love in our heart where, if someone needs a helping hand, we can help without expecting payment in return.

Why should we have to be paid? I dare to say, if your mother or father needed some help, would you charge them for it? Most of you wouldn't, though there are those who do that very thing! They take every dime from their parents, leaving them penniless.

Yes, there are families that do for one another; but there are also families that are always at war with one another. Thank God for the families that will pull together, work together, help one another without pay.

Remember one thing: God's people are a big family. We are the children of God. And God's people, as a family, ought to help one another without pay.

God Sees

Let's look back at Joseph again before finishing this message. We saw that when he interpreted the butler's dream, he asked him for a favor:

Genesis 40:14,15&23
But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: for indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon . . . Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

Joseph wasn't asking for much, just that the butler mention him unto Pharaoh to release him. No doubt, Pharaoh forgot he was in there. But even though the butler forgot to show Joseph this small kindness, God hadn't forgotten Joseph. And God won't forget us either, even though others might forget us.

Let us not be like this butler, but be sensitive to those in need, ready to show them kindness in whatever way we can.