It is written:
1 Corinthians 13:4-Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
Paul says that the kind of love that God wants us to learn and apply to our lives and excel in is a love that is kind.
Kindness is something which is often lost in our world today. We are such a fast-paced society, and one that is often based on personal glorification and pleasure, that many have forgotten (or perhaps never truly learned) what kindness is all about. They have been taught that the only way to get to the top is to climb on the backs of others.
Well, what is kindness?
The word “kind” has the meaning of being compassionate and showing favor towards another person, often when they are undeserving of such.
Perhaps the best way to illustrate kindness is by looking at a couple of examples of its’ usage throughout the Bible.
In 1 Kings 12, the people come to king Rehoboam upset over the taxes. They ask him to lower the taxes. Well, the king asks the advisors who counseled his father, Solomon, what he should do. Notice what they tell him:
2 Chronicles 10:7-And they spoke to him, saying, “If you are kind to these people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.”
Notice how the text clarifies what it means to be “kind” by pointing out that it is associated with being pleasant and speaking good words. Kindness involves trying to put others at ease, and being gracious in our words.
Do our words reflect kindness and graciousness?
Ephesians 4:29-Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Notice another example:
Luke 6:35-But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
Here, Jesus reminds us that kindness is shown by God Himself. He makes the sun rise on the good and the evil and sends rain on the just and the unjust (cf. Matthew 5:44-45).
Kindness is shown by God to those who are both “unthankful” and “evil.” Every day, people curse God; yet He continues to show them kindness after kindness. I have often heard that Christians are weak. However, the fact is, it takes far greater strengthen to show kindness to those who mistreat us instead of simply striking back and “getting even.”
Let’s try to be more kind to each other.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
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