Show Loving-Kindness To Those In Need

Jehovah God's Word exhorts us to love "loving-kindness." (Micah 6:8) It also gives us reasons why we should do so. For one thing, "a man of loving-kindness is dealing rewardingly with his own soul." (Proverbs 11:17) How true! Showing loving-kindness, or loyal love, forges warm and lasting bonds with others. As a result, we will have loyal friends-a precious reward indeed! - Proverbs 18:24.

Moreover, the Scriptures tell us: "He that is pursuing righteousness and loving-kindness will find life." (Proverbs 21:21) Yes, our pursuing loving-kindness will endear us to God and will put us in line for future blessing, including life everlasting. But how can we show loving-kindness? To whom should we extend it? And does loving-kindness differ from normal human kindness or from kindness in general?


Next time: Human Kindness And Loving-Kindness

ITimothy 2:11-15 - (11) Let a woman learn in silence with full submissiveness. (12) I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to be in silence. (13)For Adam was formed first, then Eve. (14)Also, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was thoroughly deceived and came to be in transgression, (15)however, she will be kept safe through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and sanctification along with soundness of mind.

ITimothy 6:9-11- (6) However, those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires, which plunge men into destruction and ruin. (10) For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains. (11)However, you , O man of God, flee from these things. But pursue righteousness, Godly devotion, faith, love, endurance, mildness of temper.

2 Timothy 2:23-26 - (23) Further, turn down foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing they produce fights. (24) But a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all, qualified to teach, keeping himself restrained under evil. (25)Instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed; as perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth, (26)and they may come back to their proper senses out from the snare of the Devil seeing that they have been caught alive by him for the will of that one.

I Corinthians 6:9, 10 - What! Do you not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God's Kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, or adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God's Kingdom.

Romans 1:21-32 - (21) Because although, they knew God, they did not glorify him as a God nor did they thank him, but they became empty-headed in their reasonings and their unintelligent heart became darkened. (22)Although asserting they were wise, they became foolish (23)and turned the glory of the incorruptible God into something like the image of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed creatures and creeping things. (24)Therefore, God in keeping with the desires of their hearts gave them up to uncleanness that their bodies might be dishonored among them, (25) even those who exchanged the truth of God for the lie and venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation rather than the one who created,who is blessed forever. Amen. (26) That is why God gave them up to disgraceful sexual appetites, for both their females changed the natural use of themselves into one contrary to nature, (27) and likewise even the males left the natural use of the female and became violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males, working what is obscene and receiving in themselves the full recompense, which was due for their error. (28)And just as they did not approve of holding God in accurate knowledge, God gave them up to a disapproved state, to do the things not fitting, (29) Filled as they were with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, badness, being full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malicious disposition, being whisperers (30) back-biters, haters of God,insolent, haughty, self-assuring, inventors of injurious things, disobedient to parents, (31) without understanding, false to agreements; having no natural affection, merciless, (32)although these knew full well the righteous decree of God, that those practicing such things are deserving of death, they not only keep on practicing them but also consent with those practicing them.

Romans 2:1-16- (1) therefore you are inexcusable O man, whoever you are, if you judge, for in the thing in which you judge another, you condemn yourself, inasmuch as you that judge practice the same things. (2)Now we know that the judgment of God is, in accord with the truth, against those who practice such things. (3) But do you have this idea, O man, while you judge those who practice such things and yet you do them, that you will escape the judgment of God? (4) Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forebearance and long-suffering, because you do not know that the kindly [quality] of God is trying to lead you to the repentance? (5)But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and of the revealing of God's righteous judgment. (6)And he will render to each one according to his works: (7)everlasting life to those who are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibleness by endurance in work that is good; (8)However, for those who are contentious and who disobey the truth but obey unrighteousness there will be wrath and anger, (9) tribulation and distress, upon the soul of every man who works what is injurious fo the Jew first and also of the Greek; (10) But glory and honor and peace for everyone who works what is good, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (11) For there is no partiality with God. (12) For instance, all those who sinned without law will also perish without law; But all those who sinned under law will be judged by law. (13)For the hearers of law are not the ones righteous before God, but the doers of law will be declared righteous. (14) For whenever people of the nations that do not have law do by nature the things of the law; these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves. (15) They are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts, while their conscience is bearing witness wih them and , between their own thoughts, they are being accused or even excused. (16) This will be in the day when God through Christ Jesus judges the secret things of mankind, according to the good news I declare.

Ecclesiates 8:9 - All this I have seen, and there was an applying of my heart to every work that has been done under the sun, [during] the time that man has dominated man to his injury.

Bible Verses To Live By

Ephesians 5:3-12- (3) Let fornication and uncleaness of every sort or greediness not even by mentioned among you, just as it befits holy people. (4) Neither shameful conduct nor foolish talking nor obscene jesting things which are not becoming but rather the giving of thanks. (5) For you know this, recognizing it for yourselves, that no fornicator or unclean person or greedy person-which means being an idolater-has any inheritance in the Kingdom of the Christ and of God. (6) Let no man deceive you with empty words, for because of the aforesaid things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. (7) Therefore, do not become partakers with them; (8) For you were once darkness, but you are now light in connection with [the] Lord. Go on walking as children of light, (9) for the fruitage of the light consist of every sort of goodness and righteousness and truth. (10)Keep on making sure of what is acceptable to the Lord; (11)and quit sharing with [them] in unfruitful works that belong to the darkness, but rather even be reproving [them], (12) for the things that take place in secret by them it is shameful even to relate.

Ephesians 6:10-13- (10) Finally, go on acquiring power in [the] Lord and in the mighiness of his strength (11) Put on the complete suit of armor from God that you may be able to stand firm against the machinations of the Devil; (12) because we have a wrestling, not against blood and flesh, but against the governments, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the wicked spirit forces in the Heavenly places. (13) On this account take up the complete suit of armor from God, that you may be able to resist in the wicked day and after you have done all things thoroughly, to stand firm.

God's Servants Are Favored

Jehovah's loving-kindness "has filled the earth," and how we appreciate this quality of God! (Psalm 119:64) We wholeheartedly respond to the psalmist's refrain: "O let people give thanks to Jehovah for his loving-kindness and for his wonderful works to the sons of men." (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31) We rejoice that Jehovah extends his loving-kindness to his approved servants - either as individuals or as a group. In prayer, the prophet Daniel addressed Jehovah as "the true God, the great One and the fear inspiring One, keeping the covenant and the loving-kindness to those loving him and to those keeping is commandments."
(Daniel 9:4) King David prayed: " Continue your loving-kindness to those knowing you." (Psalm 36:10) How grateful we are that Jehovah expresses loving-kindness toward his servants! - I Kings 8:23; I Chronicles 17:13).

Truly, we are favored as Jehovah's people! In addition to benefiting from God's love shown to mankind in general, we enjoy distinctive blessings resulting from our heavenly Father's loving-kindness, or loyal love. (John 3:16) Especially in time of need do we benefit from this precious quality of Jehovah. (Psalm 36:7) But how can we imitate the loving -kindness of Jehovah God? Are we individually displaying this remarkable quality?

Jehovah's Loving-Kindness Never Fails

Jehovah repeatedly expressed his loving-kindness toward the Israelites as a people. Psalm 136 relates that in his loving-kindness, he granted them deliverance (Verses 10-15), guidance (Verse 16), and protection (Verses 17-20) God has also displayed his loving-kindness toward individuals. A person who shows loving-kindness to fellow humans does so by voluntary deeds intended to fill a crucial need. Concerning loving-kindnesses, one Bible reference work states: "It is an act that preserves or promotes life. It is intervention on behalf of someone suffering misfortune or distress." One scholar describes it as "love translated into action."

The Genesis accounts that we have examined show us that Jehovah never fails to display his loving-kindness to those who love him. Lot, Abraham and Joseph lived under different circumstances and faced distinct trials. They were imperfect humans, but they were approved servants of Jehovah, and they were in need of divine help. We can take comfort in the fact that our loving heavenly Father displays loving-kindness toward such individuals.

Lot made some unwise decisions that led to hardships. (Genesis 13:12, 13; 14:11, 12) Yet, he also displayed commendable qualities. When two of God's angels arrived in sodomy Lot showed them hospitality. (Genesis 19:1-3) In faith he warned his son's-in-law about the imminent destruction of Sodom. (Genesis 19:14) God's view of Lot is found at 2 Peter 2:7-9, where we read: "[Jehovah] delivered righteous Lot, who was greatly distressed by the indulgence of the law-defying people in loose conduct-for that righteous man by what he saw and heard while dwelling among them from day to day was tormenting his righteous soul by reason of their lawless deeds-Jehovah knows how to deliver people of godly devotion out of trial." Yes, Lot was a righteous man, and the wording here implies that he was a person of godly devotion. Like him, we enjoy God's loving-kindness as we engage in "holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion."

The account in Genesis chapter 24 leaves no doubt about Abraham's bond with Jehovah. The first verse states that "Jehovah had blessed Abraham in everything." Abraham's servant called Jehovah "the God of my master Abraham." (Verses 12, 27) And the disciple James says that Abraham was "declared righteous" and
came to be called 'Jehovah's friend.'" (James 2:21-23) Much the same is true of Joseph. the close relationship between Jehovah and Joseph is emphasized throughout Genesis chapter 39. (Verses 2, 3, 21, 23) Moreover, regarding Joseph, the disciple Stephen said: " God was with him." - Acts 7:9.

The recipients of divine loving-kindness whom we have just considered were individuals who had a good relationship with Jehovah God and served the divine purpose in certain ways. They faced obstacles that they could not have overcome by themselves. At stake were the preservation of Lot's life, the continuation of Abraham's family line, and the securing of Joseph's role. Only Jehovah could fill the needs of these godly men, and he did just that by intervening with acts of loving-kindness. If we are to experience Jehovah God's loving-kindness forever, we too must have a close personal relationship with him, and we must continue to do his will- Ezra 7:28; Psalm 18:50.

Next time: God's Servants Are Favored