"When You Have Every Reason to be Unkind" by Rebecca Halton



Photo by Amelia Grace Photography

I was at the grocery store today, when I noticed a stoic gentleman next to me.  We were browsing the same section of soups.  I was examining a can of chicken and wild rice, when it occurred to me that I might be in his way.  I offered for him to just tell me if he needed me to move.  He plainly and sort of gruffly replied that I was not in the way. 

A short while later, I went to pay for my items.  Ahead of me in the checkout line was the same man.  The cashier was visibly talkative and friendly, yet the man was as quiet and concrete as before.  When it was my turn, I moved to the card swipe and waited for my total, in the meantime smiling and making friendly small talk with the same cashier.  

“Do you have any coupons?” she asked me.  I shook my head that I did not. 

That is when she reached into her register’s drawer and pulled out a reel of coupons, scanning relevant ones.  As she did this, she smiled, I thanked her, and then she commented on how unfriendly that guy had been.  That is when this friendly, warm woman said something I wasn’t expecting:  “If they’re not nice to me, I am not going to help them.”

We concluded the conversation by agreeing that maybe he had just been having a bad day, but I still left repeating that sentence in my mind, not wanting to forget it so I could share it with you.  The truth is that I wonder how many of us think that on any given day.  How many of us quietly qualify or disqualify people to be recipients of our kindness?  

She was simply saying aloud what many of us think.  I know there have been times that I’ve thought that – and acted on it (with a smile still on my face) - That if So-and-So isn’t nice to me, I won’t be nice to him or her.  Why should I?  After all, isn’t that how the world works?  There it is:  When I find myself operating in more of the world’s way, that’s when I act the least like Christ.  

I thank God that is not how He works or how Jesus acted.  Could you imagine?  Romans 5:8 says that while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us, and sinners aren’t exactly the nicest kids on the block.  Still, God kindly and mercifully sent Jesus, and Jesus still died for us.  Later, in Romans 12:20, it says that if your enemy is hungry or thirsty, give him (or her) food or drink.  In doing so, you’ll heap burning coals on his or her head.  Now, the burning coals part aside, the point I want to focus on here is the call to action, not the outcome.  The way in which God calls us to extend kindness and forgiveness baffles the world.  It baffles the world, and confounds our enemy the devil, and it gives God room to do what He does best, being good, gracious, merciful, glorious, and as Romans 8:28 says, to work all things for the good of those who love Him. 

Finally, there’s another reason for us to be kind, despite the other person.  Now, I know it feels like a tall order sometimes to be nice to some of the people in our lives, but consider Proverbs 11:17, which says, “Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.”  That’s right, we think kindness is about the other person, but Proverbs is clear that it’s for our benefit that we should be kind.  

Would you take a moment and thank the Lord with me?  Thank Him for being so good to us, even when we’re not good to Him or each other.  Thank Him for not waiting for us to be nice to Him before helping us.  Thank Him for how He can and will empower us to be kind, even when we have every worldly reason not to be. 

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Cape Tribulation

Photo by Amelia Grace photography

Cape Tribulation 

By Debra Courtney

“That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.” 

Luke 12:21 MSG 

It is easy to justify maintaining a larger savings accounts for the sake of security; however, for the heart hungry for God, security is in Christ, not a bank account.  Future uncertainties are submissive to faith, not wealth.  Yes, to be rich toward God is to be rich in faith that exhibits generosity.  True riches are found in the trust that you place in Jesus and that leads to charity in Jesus' name.  To build an excessively bigger bank accounts builds an ego and creates fear, but a life rich toward the Lord wisely gives away as the world wonders.  To truly be a giver of my time, talents, and treasures is the richest thing I can possibly do.  I have found that the more I sow, the more I reap the sowed seed. 

How is our degree of richness toward God defined?  Are we overly cautious or aggressively generous?  Perhaps we defer a major expenditure, so we can give away some of our excess to those who hunger to hear the gospel.  Professionals and poor alike need regular reminders of the love, forgiveness, and justice of Jesus.  Our intentional investment in the Kingdom bears big fruit. 

“And a windfall, if it comes – don’t make much of it.”  Psalm 62:10 MSG 

It’s our inheritance in Heaven, not on Earth, that captures the heart of focused followers of Christ.  Fortunes fade away, but treasures sent ahead to Heaven are never lost, only compounded in value.  Yes, the development and deployment of our spiritual resources are the most strategic use of wealth.  Human accolades over our earthly accomplishments are hollow compared to our Heavenly Father’s smile and affirmation over our richness toward Him.

We can’t out give God!  There’s a song that I love to listen to on occasion, and I change the verse to go something like this: “When I see you smile, Jesus, I can face the world; you know I can do anything.  When I see you smile, Jesus, I see a ray of light; I see it shinning right through the rain.” When I participate in the things that interest God and His agenda, I can just imagine Him smiling right down on me, and it makes me feel so good that my Abba Father is pleased with me.

Perhaps we draft a portfolio of generosity before we experience abundance, so we predetermine aggressive giving.  Preplanning protects us from the temptation to trust in stuff over our Savior Jesus.  The best remedy for greed is radical seed sowing.  Hoarding feeds a life of miserable misery, but significant eternal investments enhance a life engaged in the Almighty’s agenda.  Be rich toward our Heavenly Father, since He has already given us His riches in Christ Jesus!  We will ultimately be the richer for it! 

“He valued suffering in the Messiah’s camp far greater than Egyptian wealth because he was looking ahead, anticipating the payoff.”  Hebrews 11:26 MSG

On June 10, 1770, British navigator James Cook’s ship hit a reef off the northeast coast of Australia.  He sailed the ship out into deeper water only to hit the reef again, and this time the collision almost sank the ship.  This experience moved Cook to write in the ship’s log: “The North point [was named] Cape Tribulation because here began all our troubles.”

Many of us, living and breathing on the face of this Earth, have experienced a trial that has seemed to trigger a string of other trials.  The loss of a job, the death of a loved one, an unwanted divorce, or a decline in health could all be part of the list.  Even though a crisis may seem to be our “Cape Tribulation,” God is still sovereign, and He most certainly is in control. It is His purpose to use tribulation to build resilience into us.  We can smile through the rain.  In the midst of our life-changing trial, remember that God is still at work.  He wants to use our “Cape Tribulation” experience to build our character.  He has promised His grace to see us through (2 Cor. 12:9).

The Afters - Every Good Thing (Lyric Video) from the-afters on GodTube.