Strong Enough to Be Kind

SPEAKER_01 0:01

Gentlemen, every day is a battle. A battle for your faith, your family, and your purple. The men who stand strong don't prepare when the battle arrives. They prepare before it begins. Welcome to the men's morning devotional. Let's get into God's word. It's time to man up.

Steve Alessi 0:26

Good morning, gentlemen. I'm Steve Alesi, and it's time for another man up moment. This week we're looking through the book of wisdom in Proverbs, and today's devotional is about a man who is challenged to be kind. Let me ask you something. What is it in a man that when he gets cut off in traffic causes him to just lose it? I'm telling you, it's gotten so bad with guys that we've even given it a name. Road rage. Think about it. A guy puts on his turn signal and tries to merge into our lane and suddenly something rises up inside of us. Oh no, you don't, man. You're not getting in front of me. It's as though we own the road, or at least the lane that we're in, and it's our responsibility to protect it. And for what? So we can arrive at the next red light three seconds before he does? Why can't we simply be kind enough to back off, let the person merge over, and continue on our way? Because sometimes the problem isn't the other driver. The problem is what their actions bring out in us. And that's what today's Proverbs speaks about. Proverbs 11, 17 says, a kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself. Think about that. Kindness doesn't just benefit the person receiving it, it benefits the man giving it. There are certain men people naturally want to be around. They may not be the funniest, richest, smartest, or most successful guy in the room, but there's something about them that makes people feel comfortable. Often it's simply kindness. A kind man knows how to treat people. He looks people in the eye when he's talking to them. He says thank you when someone assists him. He listens instead of constantly interrupting. He treats the waiter with respect. He'll speak to his wife with honor. He's patient with his children and encouraging to the people working for him. He doesn't have to make someone else feel small in order for him to feel big. And here's what happens: people are drawn to him. Kindness will create influence because kindness creates connection. The second half of that verse says, a cruel man brings trouble on himself. Some of the trouble we experience with people isn't because they don't like us. It may be because they don't like how we treat them. Being rude eventually creates distance. People stop talking to you. Your wife and kids become guarded around you. Employees stop bringing you ideas. Friends stop calling you. And then we wonder, what's wrong with everybody? Maybe everybody isn't the problem. As men, we need enough humility to occasionally ask, what is it like to be on the other side of me? Big question, man. It's a powerful question. Because you can be a good man with a bad delivery. Yes, you can be right about something and still be rude in the way that you say it. You can have good intentions and still push people away because of your tone. There's a difference between being strong and being harsh. There's a difference between being direct and being disrespectful. Some men associate kindness with weakness, but nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus, he was incredibly kind, but no one would call Jesus weak. Jesus could confront hypocrisy, turn over tables, but he could also stop for children, touch a leper, defend the rejected, and show compassion to people that were hurting. Real strength knows when to be tough and when to be tender. How anybody can lose their temper. Anybody can just snap back and anybody can embarrass another person, but it takes a strong man to control his attitude, his words, and his reactions. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is lower your voice or say I was wrong, or even say thank you. And sometimes it's simply choosing to treat somebody better than they treated you. Man, never underestimate what your kindness communicates because a lot of people are watching you. And as a follower of Christ, people are forming an opinion about the God you serve partly by watching the way you treat people. So today, don't just be a good man, be a kind man, because kindness opens the doors that rudeness closes. So here's your man-up challenge for today. You ready? Be strong enough to be kind. Today, intentionally show kindness to three people. One person in your family, one person you work with, and one person who can do absolutely nothing for you. And throughout the day, ask yourself Are people experiencing the kindness of Christ when they experience me? Gentlemen, man up and be strong enough to be kind. Let's pray. Father, thank you for showing us kindness and mercy every day. But help us today to be men whose strength is seen, not only in what we accomplish, but in how we treat people. So guard our mouths, our attitudes, and our reactions. Help us to be firm without being harsh and direct without being disrespectful. Let our wives, our children, and our co-workers, our friends, and even strangers experience your kindness through us today. Make us strong enough to be kind. In Jesus' name. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 6:18

All right, gentlemen, you've heard God's word. Now go live it. Lead well, stand strong, honor God in everything you do. Share this devotional with another brother. Remember, every day is another opportunity to man up.