November 11

Nov 11 - Today from Proverbs 11 we look at verse 17
"A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself."

The choices we make regarding others will always have an effect on our circumstances. Kind acts are an asset not only to the beneficiary, but also to the benefactor. Cruel acts are a liability not only to the victim, but also to the perpetrator. "Count on it," says the Teacher.
To the self-serving, kindness just for the sake of being kind is deemed a waste of resources. They figure if there is no immediate benefit or self-serving ulterior motive, then there is no benefit to being kind toward another. Kindness is merely one of the 'tools in their bag' meant for manipulating and not a true characteristic.
What then is kindness? It is a genuine attitude void of pride. Kindness is laced with mercy. The literal translation for the word 'kind' here reveals a picture of one 'bowing at the neck.' It shows courtesy, as regarding another as an equal. Kind people are comfortably approachable. Jesus was kind to all. Even though their disdain for Him grew, even the very richest and learned of His day felt comfortable in approaching Him. Jesus Himself was a Rabbi - a highly regarded Teacher of the Law. He was identified with the group of 'righteous' known as the haberin or the associates. These were the societies of scrupulous Jews who pledged themselves to the study and strict observance of the law. This would include the societies of the Scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Not many associates in Jesus' day were kindly toward the 'sinners' in the land. The 'sinners' were the common people, known as 'the people of the land'. For the masses of sinners, the associates were not approachable - except for One that we know of; a Rabbi named Jesus.
What a wonder this associate must have been to the people of the land in His day. He received them. He ate with them. He touched them, healed them, forgave them and blessed them. Even the worst of them; the prostitutes, the tax collectors, the lame and the lepers, were beneficiaries of His kindness. Such kindness was unheard of from the 'righteous' of the land. But how did that benefit Himself? Many of them turned on Him when the chips were down. They crucified Him!
The benefits eventually came. They came on the day of Pentecost when 3,000 were broken under conviction and repented of their selfish and sinful lives and were added to His family (Acts 2:36-41). The benefits continued as His family grew among the nations (Gentiles!), and through the generations. The benefits continue to grow today. Oh, the blessed kindness of our Savior!
I don't believe that any of us would have seen Jesus as the beneficiary of His kindness on that historical day of Good Friday. All of His kindness seemed to have gotten Him nothing but trouble. It seemed it was the cruel associates who appeared to have won the day. But now, as we look back, I don't think that any of us would see the self-righteous associates who were standing by looking on at the events of the day, as the ones who benefited. Indeed, the events of next seventy years would reveal that they brought great trouble upon themselves. Yet even some of these were found of Him and discovered the secret of His kindness - Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, a Pharisee named Paul, and others - and they became agents of His kindness. I am convinced that they also benefited themselves; "Well done good and faithful servant. Come, and share your Master's happiness." (Matthew 25:23). What better benefit could there be?
Kindness is not an expenditure, it is an investment. We may not see any immediate returns, but we can be sure of this; the returns are sure. He is faithful.