Yesterday during a talk to a group of men we discussed a word that has often been misunderstood, kindness.  Kindness is not simply holding a door open, being nice to a stranger or bringing home flowers to you wife.  These  are great things to do and recommended to every married man, but it is not what defines kindness.

Kindness can be best defined by seeing it in action.  I Samuel 18 and II Samuel 9 defines this through the story of Jonathan and David.  The scene opens with son of King Saul, Jonathan (an heir to the thrown of Saul), asking his best friend David to make a promise to him.  The promise is that when David becomes king he will show kindness to Jonathan’s children.  David agrees.

Years later David finds himself at the end of all his running from being hunted by King Saul.  Saul and Jonathan are killed on the battlefield and now David is placed into position as the King.  When word is spread to Saul’s family and they run as they fear for their lives.  As was custom of that day, if a new kingdom is established the old leading family was destroyed to prevent a future uprising. As the family flees Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, who is five,  is dropped on the way leaving him permanently crippled. They flee to a land that is desolate and unfruitful to live out their days vanquished from their kingdom.

After David secures his kingdom and order.  He asked if their was anyone of Jonathan’s house that he could show his KINDNESS..  David’s staff found one, Mephibosheth (who we will call Meph), and David sent for him.

Meph was brought into the thrown room where he fell on his face before David saying, “here is your servant.” David began to pour out his kindness on Meph.  This action was not because of Meph’s performance, but because of a promise made to Jonathan by David for the heirs of Jonathan. (Whew, that was a mouthful.) In other words, Meph was simply a beneficiary of the actions of another. This was the kindness that was shown:  Meph was given all the lands of his grandfather King Saul and he was given a place to eat at the kings table the rest of his days.  Kindness simply means to make of like kind, equal identity.  Meph went from royalty, to a crippled outcast, to restoration in the court of the new king with all the benefits and perks.  He was not a pity case to be looked down on, but now c0nsidered an equal in the the court of David. This was the kindness of David.

Then the stakes went higher. David said, “I want to show you the Kindness of God.”  This is included not just the restoration of lands, a seat at the kings table, but David made him like a son.  This picture is the same as what we received by God.  He showed us His kindness by restoring us into the position of His beloved sons.  Their is one string attached, he had to leave his old kingdom he possessed, deserted Lo Debar, and step up into a new kingdom that he did not earn or deserve.

Psalms 63:3 says, “that His loving kindness is better than life.” Why? because he restores us into a position far above the life we could make for ourselves.  His Kindness is not passive, weak and superficial.  It is an invitation to be a joint heir of His Kingdom, with all His power and benefits. Not because of your performance or behavior, but because of what Jesus had promised.