Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior (Titus 2.9-10).
Does it matter if I’m kind to the guy behind the deli counter? Do I need to be cheerful with the cashier? Who cares what my co-workers think of me? Why should I be friendly toward the homosexuals in the apartment next door? Why shouldn’t I be rude to that incompetent waiter?
For the sake of the gospel. Paul instructed slaves to seek to be well-pleasing and not argumentative to their masters, so that by their lives they would prove the power and beauty and truth of the gospel. Paul told them not to pilfer, but to be faithful and diligent servants to give credit to the gospel. Our lives should adorn the gospel, make it appealing and attractive.
I always try to make an effort to be cheerful and courteous to everyone, be it the greeter by the carts in the store to the deli worker to the cashier. Because sometimes they know who I am, even though I’m unaware. More than once someone has asked me, “Aren’t you the pastor of that church on Wayne Avenue? That Sov…Sov…What is it?”
“Sovereign Grace Church,” I reply.
“Yes, I thought you were the pastor. I came a few weeks ago.”
What if I’d been rude or grumpy toward them? What would that say about my Master? What would it telegraph them about the gospel I claim has changed me?
One of my neighbors told me that in the fall, the leaves from the trees in his neighbor’s yard would blow into his yard, yet his neighbor would only rake right up to the property line and no further. I have trees that dump lots of leaves that blow into my neighbor’s yard, so I try to go out of my way to rake not only my own yard but his. Why? I want to adorn the gospel. There have been times I’ve gotten my boys to help me shovel snow in a neighbor’s driveway. Why? To adorn the gospel.
Paul told slaves to adorn the gospel with their lives. How do you seek to adorn the gospel at work, school or in your neighborhood?
photo by Hamed Masoumi
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Great, great, great! We should all look for opportunities to adorn the gospel with unrandom acts of kindness.
Mark, this is a provocative post. Our light is often hidden to those around us, people we see daily. Mark Dever’s example of knowing and conversing with the sandwich makers at his local Subway caused me to get to know the “deli” guys – or my mail carrier, check-in guy/gal at the gym, cashier at the grocery, etc.
Hey Jeffrey and Tim,
Thank you for your comments! I like the phrase “unrandom acts of kindness.” I want to be as intentional as I can in being kind and friendly. I certainly need God’s grace, for I’m so selfish. But I know Jesus can change me. I agree, Tim, Mark Dever is an outstanding example of this.
Hey Mark,
Great post today! We definitely have to be intentional about being kind and courteous to others. One thing that I do is hold the door for others either at my office or when I’m out at a store, it’s amazing the looks that you get from people. It’s like they totally don’t expect that anyone would show courtesy or kindness to them. We have to be so much different in this dark world that we live in, even the seemingly small things make a huge impact in people’s lives for Christ. Thanks for the daily encouragement!
Blessings
Ron Reffett
Hey Ron,
Great comments! I agree – even a little thing like holding the door for someone or showing other courtesy is unexpected by most people. I agree – we never know what even a small act of kindness may speak to someone. Thanks!
There can also be the opposite…at my bridal shower my mom gave the advice to ‘Remember the Safeway checker’…like, I should treat my husband as I do (or presumably should treat him better than) people I don’t know.
It can be easy for me to be (relatively) nice or neutral or okay to people I don’t know or don’t know incredibly well, but it’s the people that know me best that I can treat the worst.
Galatians 6:10 says: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
It’s pleasing to God to be good to family members: “But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.” – 1 Tim. 5:4
I need to work on the opposite, though of course I should be nice to public people I spend a few seconds or minutes with as well! It’s easy to be neutral or not think much about those few minute exchanges.
Guys, I just found this blog from Josh Harris’. Your articles are so filled with truth and humility. Thanks so much for using your gifts of writing and teaching for the Savior!
Furthermore; what about the “Waitress in a Crowded Diner?” well, I always say to myself, “She Works Hard for the MOney so YOu BEtter Treat HEr Right.”
and she does !(work hard for the money)
Hi Rachael,
You’re right – with people we know, it’s easy to “let our guard down” and treat our family members or Christian brothers and sisters with less kindness than “outsiders.” I completely agree with you – we should especially love and honor our Christian brothers and sisters and live before unbelievers in a way that will hopefully make the gospel appealing. Thanks for commenting.
Thanks so much for your encouragement JS!
Joanne,
Yep – even the waitress in a crowded diner!