“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds” (Matthew 16:26-27 NASB). Notice how Jesus’ famous question is coupled with the judgments of deeds one has done. There is a connection between our ambition and greed and how we treat others. Many have become so self-centered and selfish that they no longer care about the suffering and struggles of others (cf. Matthew 9:11-13, 12:1-7). They are always asking “What’s in it for me?” and rarely, if ever, will do something for another if it does not benefit them personally (cf. Matthew 6:1-2).
This is where the third ideal of Bushido (i.e, benevolence) helps us spiritually. Followers of Bushido sought to have no more than they needed and considered an excess a burden. To keep from being burdened with more than they needed, they would give their excess to the poor (at least theoretically). Living this way keeps one from greed and helps one learn contentment (cf. Philippians 4:11-13). It is the application of the truth that gaining the world is not worth losing your soul.
Webster’s defines benevolence as: “The disposition to do good; good will; charitableness; love of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness.” While the word benevolence is only found in one verse in the KJV, the concept of benevolence is found throughout the Bible. Consider the following Bible concepts as they relate to benevolence.
Mercy
Mercy is giving or doing something for another at no cost to the one who received it. It is directly connected with love and forgiveness (cf. Matthew 6:12, 14-15). It is the ability to see a need and do something about it (cf. Mathew 9:35-10:1). Jesus said: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7 NKJV).
When someone is in need, we must do more than give them empty words of comfort, we must seek to help them (James 2:15-16). We must learn to be kind and compassionate even to our enemies (Romans 12:17-21). If someone wrongs us and asks for forgiveness, we must forgive them (cf. Matthew 18:22-35), not because they deserve forgiveness or kindness, but because of who we are and who we serve. Mercy requires strength of mind and strength of character, but it is worth the effort because by acting mercifully we will receive mercy from God.
Kindness/Goodness
Kindness is often talked about in the same breath as mercy (cf. Luke 6:35-36). It is also linked with the idea of goodness. One Greek-English Lexicon defines this word as “usefulness, helpfulness . . . the quality of being helpful or beneficial, goodness, kindness, generosity.1” Kindness is a component of gentleness/meekness. Biblically speaking, gentleness is not weakness, but power brought under control and coupled with kindness so that it helps and builds others up.
Ephesians 4:32 gives us two components of kindness: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” First, we must be tender-hearted. This refers to an emotional feeling that compels one to help. We must be a desire to help others. Seeing others struggling or in torment should pain us and cause us to consider: “What can I do?” Then, we must take action. The second component of kindness is treating others the way God has treated us. Specifically, this passage highlights the willingness to forgive another. We cannot claim to be kind if we are not willing to forgive another.
Love
Unlike English, the original language of the Bible used different words for different kinds of love. Romantic love, familial love, friendship, and the kind of love that speaks for a mere fondness for something (e.g., I love pizza) all have different words. They had another word, however, that described the highest form of love: AGAPE. This is a love that is not based on emotions, but a choice. The choice to seek what is best for others. It is unconditional in that we love others no matter how they treat us.
This kind of love is the greatest expression of the true knowledge of God (cf. 2 Peter 1:2-3). It is the ultimate expression of God’s character (cf. 1 John 4:7-10). It is seen when we are concerned for others and what they are going through (Romans 12:15). When we refuse to think of ourselves as better than others, (Romans 12:16-17). It is also seen when we are striving to be at peace with others (Romans 12:18). It is a love that is offered even to our enemies and those who are mistreating us (Matthew 5:43-48, Romans 12:14). It requires a trust in God that He will make everything right and fair (Romans 12:19-21). This is the kind of love that Jesus said would identify those who are truly His disciples (John 13:34-35).
We can perhaps understand the concept of benevolence by looking at the actions of two Bible role models.
The first is a Levite named Joseph, better known as Barnabas. He was given the name Barnabas by the Apostles because it means “son of encouragement.” Several events show us just how fitting this name was to Barnabas. In Acts 4:34-37, Barnabas sells his land and gives it to the Apostles so that no Christian would be in need. His selflessness and kindness must have encouraged many. Later, when the Apostle Paul was finding difficulty being accepted in Jerusalem because of his past as a persecutor, Barnabas was the one who spoke up for him and confirmed his faith (Acts 9:26-27). He was willing to step in and be a friend to those who had none. We see his encouraging nature again in Acts 15:36-41. This time, it is on behalf of his cousin, Mark. Mark had started off Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey but had abandoned them along the way (cf. Acts 13:13). Despite abandoning them, Barnabas was determined to give Mark a second chance even though Mark had wronged them. Paul, however, absolutely refused. Barnabas ends up taking Mark on a separate journey from Paul’s. Later, Paul would acknowledge that Mark was a good worker (cf. Colossians 4:10, 2 Timothy 4:11). Perhaps Mark had changed because of Barnabas’ encouragement and willingness to stand up for him. Barnabas sacrificed to help others, he was a friend to the friendless, and he was willing to forgive and let the past go. This is what made him a son of encouragement and such a great example of loving others.
The second is David. David was one who actively searched for others to show kindness. One example of this is his search for a descendant of Saul (2 Samuel 9:1-13). While no one would have expected David to show kindness to the house of his enemy, David held himself to a higher standard (in part because of his friendship with Jonathan, Saul’s son). He found out about Mephibosheth (Saul’s grandson) and gave him all of Saul’s lands and invited Mephibosheth to eat at his table frequently. Later David also sought to show kindness when a foreign king passed away. David reached out to comfort and console the new king (2 Samuel 10:1-2). David was not one who just sat around and would only help others if they came to him; he went looking for opportunities to show kindness.
We need to examine ourselves and consider if we are holding up to the Biblical ideal of benevolence
- Do you feel that you are helpful to others?
- What could you do to be more helpful?
- What kind of actions and attitudes discourage others? (e.g., complaining, arguing, selfishness, etc.)
- What can you do to avoid these actions?
- Is there anyone you can think of that could use some encouragement?
- What can you do for them?
Fathers, consider teaching some of the principles in this lesson to your family as a devotional (or a series of devotionals) and doing some of the following activities with your children to help teach them the concept of benevolence:
A Soft Touch
Play a game like Jenga, which requires a soft touch. Build the tower and have your children knock it over. What did strength accomplish? It destroyed. Now, build the tower again and use a gentle touch to remove the blocks and build the tower higher. With gentleness, we can build up. God wants us to use gentleness to build others up. See how high you can build the tower. (If you don’t have Jenga, you might try stacking dominoes or blocks, or adapt any other game that requires a soft touch.)
The Meal of Kindness
Help your children prepare a meal for the family as a way of demonstrating kindness. Pre-made foods are fine, but the more involved they can be the better. Encourage them to choose foods they know others like, set the table, serve the food, and clean up afterward. Talk with them about how it felt to serve others.
The Fires of Love
Make a campfire. Use it to illustrate the ideas of shedding light and warmth to those around. If the campfire were in the open, it could be seen for miles in the darkness. It warms us on a cold night and is useful for letting us cook food (e.g., marshmallows). When we love in the way God has commanded this is the influence we will have on others, we will be something positive in their lives, something dependable, and something that will show others how God’s followers truly behave.
By Jeremy Sprouse
Jeremy has been married to Erynn since August 1999. They are blessed with six children: Jaden, Isaiah, Isaac, Ean, Joseph, and Evelyn. Jeremy preaches for the Patrick St. church of Christ in Dublin, TX and is the author of To Train Up a Knight.
- Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000 : 1090. Print.
Other lessons in this series:
- Spiritual Bushido
- The Way of Righteousness
- Heroic Courage
- Benevolence
- Respect
- Honesty
- Honor (coming soon)
- Duty/Loyalty (coming soon)
- Self-Control (coming soon)
Knights of The Father 