Works Referenced
William Shakespeare - Taming of the Shrew, Act IV, Scene 1, the character Petruchio says:
“This is the way to kill a wife with kindness; And thus I’ll curb her mad and headstrong humour.”
Spurgeon, Charles Haddon. The Kindness of God Leading to Repentance. Commentary on Romans 2:4. In The New Park Street Pulpit, Vol. 6. London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1860.
The kindness of God leads us to repentance. It is not the thunder that softens, but the sun. It is not the law that melts, but the love.
Adam Grant on Kindness
One of the most reliable ways to improve our mental health is to help others. After being randomly assigned to do just 3 acts of kindness a week, people felt significantly less depressed, anxious, and lonely. Lifting others up elevates us too. Giving shows us that we matter.
https://x.com/adammgrant/status/1871601199910420591?s=61&t=I4ij8eKOHUgedR_RITMhXw
Scripture Referenced
Romans 12:19-21
[19] Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” [20] To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” [21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
God is Kind
Romans 11:22
[22] Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
Love demonstrated!
God is Kind to Us in the Gospel
Ephesians 2:7-10
[7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Titus 3:4-7
[4] But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, [5] he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, [6] whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, [7] so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Romans 2:4
[4] Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Go and Do Likewise
Luke 6:35-36
[35] But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. [36] Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Philippians 4:14
[14] Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
Acts 28:1-2 - Paul on Malta
[1] After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. [2] The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.
We Become More Like Jesus
Galatians 5:22-23
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
[4] Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [5] or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [6] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. [7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
2 Timothy 2:24-25
[24] And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, [25] correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
