2 Timothy 1:15-18

You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶ May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus,because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. ¹⁷ On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. ¹⁸ May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

Not only is kindness sensitive, supportive, sacrificial and searching but the last characteristic of kindness is one we don’t often think about:

• Storing 

Onesiphorus lived up to his name, which means “bringing profit.” He was kind to a man who was unable to repay him. But notice what Paul prays for: “May the Lord show special kindness to Onesiphorus and all his family.” Here is a powerful reminder when it comes to kindness, the Lord is watching and while it may not benefit us in this world we will be blessed in the next. Its what the Bible calls storing up treasures in heaven. So, let me ask you where are you investing your time and talents? Are you investing them in yourself and making short term investments here or are you sharing them and storing up treasures in heaven? How do you know look at your calendar and bank account, where you spend your time and treasure. If we would open up our eyes to those around us we would see that there are many people held back by the chains and the pains of this life. But kindness can cut through the chains of loneliness, abandonment, and anger. You see kindness refreshes relationships and kindness kindles the flame of friendship. Kindness is not just a principle but something we need to put into practice. We need to examine our response to others in the light of love. If negative attitudes quickly surface, if glaring character defects always loom up before us, let’s ask God to help us see others through eyes of love. Love sees faults through a telescope, not a microscope. Remember, more people have been attracted to Christianity by a believer’s kindness that through zeal, eloquence or learning combined. Mark Twain said, “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear, and the blind can see.” Onesiphorus lived up to his name, which means “bringing profit.” So let me end by sharing a few keys to kindness that have been helpful to me:

1. Try to visualize every person you meet as valuable beyond measure and loved by God.

2. Try to visualize yourself as a transformed person who is in the process of developing the attitudes and actions of true love, including being clothed with kindness.

3. And try to be keenly aware of every opportunity to express kindness in action and in word – at home, at school, at work, and everywhere you go.

4. Be on an adventure of spreading love through kindness.

What if you made it your goal to do one kind thing every day, how would the world around you be different? 

2 Timothy 1:15-18

You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶ May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus,because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. ¹⁷ On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. ¹⁸ May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

Not only is kindness sensitive and supportive but the third characteristic of kindness is one we really don’t like to talk about:

3. Sacrificial

The truth is kindness will cost you. First you will have to sacrifice selfishness, you will never serve others as long as you are focused on self. Paul tells us that everyone from the province of Asia had deserted him even those he thought were close to him and cared. Why did they desert him, the same reason most of the disciples deserted Christ to save their own skin. Bringing kindness to Paul would have associated them with the prisoner. It could have ruined their reputation and caused them to also be put in chains. One of the biggest reasons we are not caring is because kindness costs. There is a price to pay. Onesiphorus was from Ephesus which is 1200 miles from Rome. It involved a long journey that cost him his time and treasure to bring kindness to Paul. So why did Onesiphorus risk his freedom and even his life to be kind to Paul because he remembered the price Christ paid for his freedom. When kindness is motivated by grace we will give, but when kindness is motivated by getting, how it will benefit me, we will only be kind as long as it serves self. Kindness is a gift that keeps on giving. But sadly, some of us instead of being kind are being mean in our marriages because the motivation behind your kindness is not grace but getting. You are not really looking to serve your spouse you are trying to serve self. Instead of trying to be a blessing you are trying to benefit. Some of you are being kind to your wife not to serve her but to get pleasure. But she instinctively knows that you are not interested in her heart and so she ignores your advances. Just like patience there is a price to kindness, but the price of not being kind is greater. How many of us are paying the price of not being kind, not just with our spouses but with our kids? True kindness is motivated by sacrificial service, it understands that not only is there a price to be payed but it is willing to pay it. Which brings us to the fourth characteristic of kindness: 

4. Searching

Kindness requires being intentional. I want you to notice that Onesiphorus didn’t just think kind thoughts, he went to Rome, and when he got there he searched everywhere until he found Paul.  Kindness doesn’t just happen we have to be intentional. We have to be willing to put our agendas aside and seek out those who need a touch of kindness. Here was a man that left his home to journey to the big city of Rome to share the kindness of God. When he got there, he had to search for Paul, which means he would have had to inquire about Paul the prisoner and risk being associated with him. We don’t know how long he had to search for Paul, but we do know that he found him and cared for him with kindness. So, who do you need to search out and share God’s kindness with?