Sermon Snippet – Try a Little Tenderness
INTRODUCTION – Perhaps some of you remember the old Otis Redding song “Try a Little Tenderness,” a secular song from a time when many songs still had a moral message. It suggests that tenderness is needed in a good relationship, certainly an admirable sentiment. Far stronger and more comprehensive statements are found in Scripture, based upon the revealed character of God. One verse (of many) that speaks of our Lord’s tenderness is Psalm 51:1: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” Let us consider a few applications deriving from this Biblical tenderness.
1. SOME PEOPLE ARE QUARRELSOME
I once read a local yearbook that described a graduate as “argumentative.” He was (I knew him a bit), but I thought that the editor should have changed the word to “opinionated.” The point is that some folks are naturally more quarrelsome than others. What does the Bible say about such people? Colossians 3:13 enjoins us to be “forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” This command does not mean that you can say to your wife, “I forgive you, you quarrelsome nag,” or to your husband, “I forgive you, you quarrelsome curmudgeon.” The quality of our forgiveness is qualified by Jesus’ forgiveness of us: “Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Ephesians 4:32 is similar in its kind commandment: “Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” The tender approach of Jesus informs our actions. Of course, quarrelsome nags and curmudgeons need to rein it in some, as well. Tenderness should flow in both directions.
2. SOME PEOPLE ARE BURDENED…AND PERHAPS BURDENSOME
Jesus, in an all-encompassing invitation (Matthew 11:28-30), offers to bear our burdens. He also challenges us to come alongside others to help them with their heavy loads (Galatians 6:2-3). An old Gospel song wisely concludes, “Thy burdens are greater than mine.” Let us also not add to the trouble of others, especially those close to us.
3. SOME PEOPLE ARE REBELLIOUS
Matthew 23:37 records Jesus’ tender regard for the inhabitants of Jerusalem: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” As much as we can, we need to hold onto the rebellious; perhaps they will return to what is right and good. Jesus’ refusal to turn His back on Jerusalem is our model (verses 38-39). Note that one day Jerusalem will welcome Jesus as Messiah. Perhaps our rebellious ones will likewise be won over by our Lord’s tenderness.
4. SOME PEOPLE ARE BRUISED
As we have already considered in point 2, life is not easy for any of us. For some, it is really hard. Jesus deals tenderly with these hurting folk: “a bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory” (Matthew 12:20). What the world considers to be useless and causally (and perhaps callously) discards, Jesus gathers up to envelop and enfold: “A broken and a contrite [bruised, crushed] heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17b). Let us be especially tender to the bruised amongst us.
CONCLUSION – I think again of the Prodigal Son (whom we studied recently). His story in Luke 15:11-32 is heart-rending, for he checks all four of the boxes that we have spoken of today. One of the saddest lyrics that I know asks, “If I could find my way back home, where would I go?” The Prodigal Son was at that point, until “he came to himself” (verse 17) – came to his senses – and realized that he could return home to his father (verses 18-19). The tender response of his father to him (verse 20) is the tender response of our Father God to us. We all need the “tender mercies” of God found in the Gospel message; each one of us needs the eternal embrace of God the Son, Jesus Christ, Who died to pay for all of our sins and rose from the tomb to give us everlasting life. May each of us enter into His tender forgiveness through a simple, personal faith in Him, and may we become people who convey His tender touch to others.