A Vital Virtue, Usually Forgotten
By Pastor Chuck Swindoll
God’s Absolute Sovereignty
“‘God sent me before you to preserve life.’ His theology is right on. God isn’t almost sovereign but is absolutely sovereign. There are no accidents. There are no mistakes. There are no coincidences. This is an event that was planned before there was time or matter. Planned by the Godhead for His glory and for my good. He says, ‘The famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting’ (Genesis 45:6). Look at the theology of verse 7. ‘God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.’ Chesed. That’s what it is. He’s loving chesed. He’s loving mercy. He’s modeling kindness.”
Three Lessons from Joseph’s Life
“When I realize I’m not in God’s place, the desire for revenge fades. So whoever it is whose face is on your dartboard, spend the first few weeks at seminary getting it erased. You’re not in God’s place. Furthermore, your retaliation would be nothing compared to what God can do if that’s His plan. He’ll take care of them. Second, when I acknowledge God’s sovereign hand in all that’s happened, the grip of bitterness is released. Joseph said, ‘God was in this. I see God from start to finish. Certainly, I wouldn’t have planned it. Some of it’s been horrible, painful, difficult. Sometimes impossible for me on my own strength to bear but I see God’s hand in it.’ When I acknowledge God’s sovereign hand in all that’s happened, the grip of bitterness is released. Third, when I’m truly free of revenge and bitterness, there is plenty of room in my heart left for kindness and not until.”
Revenge is the Lord’s Job
“See, when you take revenge, you take God’s role. Vengeance is God’s job. It’s not your job. I could name a dozen people that have done me wrong, really wrong in my lifetime. It’s God’s job to deal with them. Not one of those people has asked forgiveness. There’s a break in our relationship not because I want it but they want it. And I could let that eat me up. And as best I could say I’ve not really caused it. There were misunderstandings, there were things done and said that never got bridged. I would love to know that by the time I’m gone there’s peace with all of them but there won’t be.”
Stay Tender and Kind
“Truth be told, some of you have arrived pretty beaten up. There’s one thing all of us have in common—we’ve been mistreated by somebody. Some of you have known abuse, misunderstanding. Even though you’re young, you’ve already felt the sting of not being understood by those you thought would understand. It’s just starting. And all of this has a way of siphoning your tank of kindness. It can make you hard and you can get on with hard, you can get along with it. In fact, some will even respect you more because you’re tough, but I urge you not to be.”
Kindness Takes Time
“So you will find in ministry that kindness will fly away because it doesn’t come naturally and because you will find regrettably that it isn’t frequently found even in the church, especially when people need it the most. Kindness takes time.”
Additional Resources
First, sign up for our Chuck’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you his best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-page checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.
Second, check out our new Preach The Word articles and video series on YouTube where we’re teaching Chuck’s best insights on this important calling.
Third, listen to Chuck’s messages to those in ministry through our Seminary Chapels page. For decades, he offered students at Dallas Theological Seminary his best thoughts on church leadership and ministry. Now, we have put them at your fingertips. Also, you can find them through this YouTube playlist we created for you.
Fourth, if you don’t own a copy of Chuck’s book on preaching, Saying It Well, we highly recommend you add it to your library. It’s his preaching memoir that is also like a practical preaching manual. You won’t be able to put it down.
About the author
Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Pastor Charles R. Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word. He is the founding pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck’s listening audience extends far beyond a local church body. As a leading program in Christian broadcasting since 1979, Insight for Living airs around the world. Chuck’s leadership as president and now chancellor emeritus at Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation of men and women for ministry.
