“Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the 1sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.” (Prov. 27:9) 1mâthaq: to be or become sweet or pleasing. Let’s consider the application of ointment and perfume. It was an eastern custom at the time of the writing of this proverb that when a man’s guests were about to leave his home, he would sprinkle the head of the guest with refreshing, perfumed ointments. THIS WAS AN ACT OF KINDNESS TO THE GUEST. The Biblical stories of Jesus overflow with acts of kindness. These acts almost read like a language in and of themselves and if we look under a blanket of kindness we find Jesus speaking love, joy and healing. It is where we find Jesus touching lives and making differences. Consider how he has impacted the world with such a gentle force that we can still see THE FRUIT OF HIS KINDNESS TODAY.
Here is a Bible account where we see His kindness at work. “…behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” IMMEDIATELY his leprosy was cleansed.” (Matt. 8:1-4) He asks to be made clean and Jesus touches him. And just like that; HE IS CLEAN! With just one touch, Jesus breaks all laws and boundaries set by religious leaders and TOUCHES THE UNTOUCHABLE. In one touch, Jesus not only heals him but gives him the gift of being clean. In those days, lepers were outcasts and could not be touched. There was a shame attached to being unclean in Jewish society. After all, lepers were on the “unclean” list with pigs! Jesus not only restored his skin and decaying limbs, He gave him a new status in life. Through the kindness of Jesus, he could live “clean.” He could give and feel the touch of family and friends.
“And Jesus Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the EQUIPPING of the saints for the WORK OF MINISTRY, for the EDIFYING of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to A PERFECT MAN, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but…
SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, WE MAY GROW UP IN ALL THINGS TO HIM WHO IS THE HEAD—CHRIST… (Eph. 4:11-15)
-Bill Stockham