Kindness That Counts: How Helping Others Honors God

Hey carpool crew. Whether you're chilling in the backseat with your favorite snack or helping mom push the cart at the store, I'm Pastor Justin and I'm so glad you're here. Today's episode is all about kindness, and not the be nice because you're told to be nice kind of kindness. This is deeper. This is God level kindness. Let's look at today's verse from Proverbs chapter 19, verse 17. Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and he will give a reward to the lender. Proverbs is a book full of wisdom, short powerful sayings, written mostly by King Solomon, who is known as the wisest man to ever live, and he was the son of King David. He wrote this in Jerusalem, and it was meant to teach young people how to live wisely and honor God in everyday life. Now back then, there weren't things like food banks or shelters like we have today for people who were in need. If someone was poor, they were really struggling. They depended on the kindness of others to survive. Helping them wasn't always easy or convenient, but God's people were taught to see it as something incredibly important. This proverb tells us something amazing. When you help someone in need, it's like you are giving something directly to God. He sees it, he remembers it, and he promises to reward it. Not with a prize like a trophy, but with something even better. His favor, his joy, and his presence in your life. If Jesus were here with us today, he might lean in and say, every time you're kind to someone in need, it's like you're being kind to me. See, Jesus actually said something like that. In Matthew chapter 25, he told a story about people who gave food to the hungry, clothes to the poor, and visited the sick. And Jesus said, whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me. He's not just watching what we do. He's with us in it. He loves it when we help others who can't pay us back. That's kingdom kindness. So how can you live this out today? Well look around your camp or your neighborhood. Is there someone who's always left out? Maybe someone who doesn't have anyone to play with. Sit with them, include them. In your family, maybe your little brother or sister is saving up for something and you can secretly surprise them with a little gift to help them. Even a small gesture shows God's love. It doesn't have to be big. God isn't looking for flash. He's looking for hearts that say, God, I'll help you because you care, and so do I. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. Parents, here's a great challenge for your week with your kid. Brainstorm one way that you can show kindness to someone else and do that together. Maybe it's donating at a local food pantry. Maybe it's going through your clothes and donating some clothes to those in need. Maybe it's inviting over another family to have dinner at your house and hang out. Come up with an idea and do it as a family. Before you go, answer this question together, who is someone in your life who might need extra kindness right now? I'll see you tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus.