Fake Kindness?

When you’re kind to others, you help yourself; when you’re cruel to others, you hurt yourself. (Proverbs 11:17 MSG)

There have been many articles written about being kinder, gentler and a more Christlike. We do this without actually feeling kind on the inside. We know that our "reputation" depends on us being known as kind. No one wants the "mean" girl reputation. We go all day long holding our temper and having patience with people in the checkout line. We smile and say nice things to strangers.

But I think this verse starts with "how do I treat my husband." Am I kind to Mark all the time? Am I kinder to others at work than I am to Mark? Sometimes at the end of a long day my kindness is all "used up." I think I deserve to be a little snappy because I have spent the whole day being kind to others. Wow, if this describes you like it does me…ouch!

Big truth…if I am not kind to Mark, I am only hurting myself. I am damaging my most important relationship. I am not treating Mark as my teammate that God blessed with me. In fact, if the other part of the day was "fake" kindness because I was worried about what others thought, I should have plenty of "real" kindness left over for Mark:). If there is none left over, then there is a problem with my heart. 

Lord, do open heart surgery on my heart so that my kindness is real all day long, but especially to the love of my life, Mark Cooper

How to Handle Our Problems

Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (2 Chronicles 20:12 NIV)

If you do not spend time in the Old Testament, especially 2 Chronicles, you will miss some powerful truths about how to handle your problems.
Jehoshaphat was facing an impossible situation. The Moabites and the Ammonites were about to destroy them. The entire country came before the Lord to pray. And God answered.

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’ ” (2 Chronicles 20:17 NIV)

Often we wish we could have a prophet to speak truth into our lives like the kings of the Old Testament. If we could hear someone tell us that the battle would be successful, we would stop feeling so panicked about the war we are facing. We would march forward with confidence.

But there are many times when we do hear from someone and they are speaking truth and we just don't want to hear the truth. We want a different game plan. Especially a plan that lets us get a lot of the credit. A plan that involves us being the hero of the story.

And we would miss the result of letting God get the glory.

When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. (2 Chronicles 20:24-25 NIV)