A Devotional on Kindness That Costs Something

Luke 6:35: "But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil."

Easy kindness is good: holding a door, saying thank you, giving a compliment. But God often calls us to a deeper kindness, the kind that costs time, money, comfort, or pride.

A seat at the king's table

After David became king, he asked a surprising question: "Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" (2 Samuel 9:1). Saul had tried to kill David for years. In that culture, a new king would usually eliminate the old king's family.

Instead, David found Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, who was disabled and living in obscurity, and said:

2 Samuel 9:7: "Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually."

Not a one-time gift. A permanent seat at the king's table. That's costly kindness. It's also a picture of what God has done for us: brought us from far away to a permanent place at His table.

Kindness that expects nothing back

Jesus says to do good "hoping for nothing again." No thank-you note required. No payback expected. That's how God treats us; He's "kind unto the unthankful."

Proverbs 19:17: "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again."

Ways to show costly kindness this week

• Give time. Visit someone lonely. Sit with them longer than is convenient.
• Give a seat at your table. Invite someone who's often left out to dinner.
• Give a gift with no occasion. Something thoughtful from our Christian gift ideas can tell someone they're seen.
• Give grace. Be kind to someone who hasn't been kind to you.

Want your everyday clothes to be a conversation starter for kindness? Our Christian t-shirts carry messages that point people back to Jesus.

Reflect

• Who in your life is a "Mephibosheth": overlooked, far away, or easy to forget?
• What kindness could you show this week that would actually cost you something?

Pray

Lord, thank You for giving me a seat at Your table when I had nothing to offer. Make me kind the way You are kind, even when it's costly and even when no one says thank you. Show me who needs kindness this week, and give me the courage to act. Amen.