Kindness is intended to bring us to repentance according to Romans 2:4-8. For months I have been drawn to this passage. It has become somewhat of a case study on people I am concerned about who are making a series of choices that are taking them away from God as well as a reflective look at my own experiences with God relative to repentance.
“Does kindness really work?” is the primary question that I have been pondering. Here are some non-scientific observations in no particular order:
• God’s kindness is often taken advantage of.
• God’s kindness is often taken for granted, much like a spoiled child expects
to have his own way, often making unhealthy choices, without any
consequences.
• God’s kindness can go unnoticed
• God’s kindness doesn’t seem to reach the rebellious, self-absorbed heart.
• God’s kindness only seems to lead those who have been broken.
My dad was a horseman and my sister followed in his footsteps. He trained quarter horses for racing. My sister simply loved horses. Both dad and Diana used similar techniques to train their horses. But there was a BIG difference in their demeanor toward the animal. Dad could be kind if he got complete compliance but if not he could be cruel. Diana, on the other hand, was always kind, even when correcting the animal’s bad behavior.
I was particularly impressed with Diana’s ability to go nose-to-nose with her horses, look them in the eye and gain control with a calm, soothing voice (kindness). My 110 pound sister would stand in front of this 1250 pound animal and control it with kindness. It was something to see.
It seems to me that many folks respond to disobedience like Dad, with violence and demands. Not only do many react to non-compliance with force, many expect to be lead by force. At least it seems like they only respond to force. Some people struggle with kindness; kindness is foreign to them.
From our text we know that judgment will come to the stubborn and they will be punished. But even that will be done, not from a mad, cruel God, but rather, from a kind, brokenhearted God who doesn’t want to punish, but who must.
My Dad’s goal was to control. My sister’s goal was friendship. She genuinely loved her horses, perhaps even to the point of preferring her relationship with them over most people.
That sounds crazy, right? Well I see it as a pretty good picture of how God treats us. God gives so much more to the relationship than we do, much like Diana caring for and providing for her horses. Yet, anyone who knew her knew she got so much from her animals. One might say her animals brought fulfillment to her life.
I don’t really understand it, but Jesus’ primary focus was and is to do everything possible to ensure that we have the best life ever, which can only come from a life lived in complete harmony with Father God.
One last note: Both Dad and Diana lead their horses by touch. Though their horses had bits in their mouths the bits weren’t intended to be used, much like the warnings of scripture for the disobedient. Bits and warnings are there to remind us that doing our own thing will have unpleasant consequences.
The horses were neck reined. Neck reining is when the reins are held loosely and when a turn is desired by the rider the reins would gently touch one side or the other of the horse’s neck and the horse would then turn in that direction. If stopping was desired a gentle tug on the reins was all that was required.
I don’t know about you, but I, for one, prefer the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit. Though I need and even deserve rough and forced treatment, rarely does God ever use the bit.
The bit is extreme in the hands of God. He hates to use the bit. When He must, it’s not with a smile, it’s with a heavy heart.
If we are primarily lead by force, then we need to be broken. We must once and for all put down our pride and selfishness and live for God according to His written Word. Until we follow Jesus’ example and say and mean, “Not my will, but Yours be done,” we will only feel the bit instead of the intended gentle touch or tug of kindness.
As with Diana’s horses, as long as we willingly live a broken life before God, it will be loose reins and companionship.
