Humble and Kind

Three weeks ago Anna and I closed on our new house. We moved across town to be closer to family and put our daughter in a different school. We had no idea how close to the family the next few weeks would bring us. 

We bought the house knowing there were some flooring issues, but the extent of the problems was far more than we expected, and we’ve been living with my brother and his family while our house was being repaired and renovated. Like every renovation project I’ve ever done, there has been friction and frustration. For instance, our tile contractor haphazardly installed the bathroom tile incorrectly, not once but twice, in the only working bathroom in the house – setting us back a week. Ugh.

It’s interesting how things that upset your wife and daughter push on you emotionally too. Like most, this pushed me to anger. As I was sitting on my brother’s back porch the evening of error #2 contemplating my response to the contractor that would utterly destroy him and make me feel vindicated, Tim McGraw’s song, Humble and Kind, started playing in the background. Really, God? Are you actually getting Tim McGraw in on this too?

I have had many “What would Jesus do” moments. In fact, I’ve probably worn (and sold) some WWJD merch in my years, but this was my first “What would Tim McGraw do” moment for me. As it turns out, they’re the same thing in this instance. 

Colossians 3:12-13 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” 

Damn you, Tim! I was all ready to get my grout on! I don’t want to be kind! Where is the strength in that? But the first line of that scripture, “As God’s Chosen ones,” screams: “You can do this, but do it differently! Remember My ways are not your ways!” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

I’m working on believing that You can be humble and still have authority. Scriptures reveal numerous instances where humility and kindness are like God’s secret multiplier. 

You under your ways + your strength = outcome to the power of 1

You under God’s ways + your strength + God’s might = outcome to the power of X!

In God’s economy, kindness doesn’t cost anything but has the greatest reward. It sounds a bit analytical and mystical at the same time, but just as scripture promises us, God’s Word never returns to us void (Isaiah 55:11) and is always alive and working (Hebrews 4:12), so this is the recipe for victory! 

Have you had moments when you have stepped into humility and kindness instead of judgment, anger, or clinging to your “But, I’m right!” and God saw you through? I would love the encouragement today. Would you please leave your story in the comments? I am ready to be God’s Chosen. Here we go!

In His service and at yours!

~Shawn