Fruit of the Spirit – Kindness …. a deeper look
part 5 of 9
What is kindness? Kindness starts with caring —being tenderhearted and compassionate toward others. Let's look at what, according to Scripture, accompanies true kindness:
Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. *
So, how important is kindness? In a 2003 study of 37 cultures around the world, 16,000 subjects were asked about their most desired traits in a mate. For both sexes, the first preference was kindness!
We often think about kindness in terms of a single “act of kindness” instead of a lifestyle. However, the Bible tells us that we are to clothe ourselves in kindness, which goes far beyond just doing kind things for others every now and then.
The Greek word for “kind” is chrestos. Part of its meaning is “useful”, which makes it clear that biblical kindness involves action also. Our world places more emphasis on actions than words. For the most part, this is true but it doesn't mean words are not important also. Encouraging words of comfort, courtesy, compliments and even correction can be heartwarming acts of kindness. As attested in:
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” – wear kindness. like a beautiful set of clothes.
People want to be treated kindly but have a harder time being kind themselves. A large-scale study of school bullies was recently conducted to learn why they bully other kids. The conclusion? Most do it because they enjoy doing it.
This illustrates how cruel, mean and sadistic raw human nature is. Kindness is another one of those things that must be learned, and many children are not being taught it.
In fact, much of the media they’re exposed to teaches the opposite. Violence and other terrible influences in media entertainment cause people to become desensitized and calloused toward the needs and feelings of others.
Some people think kindness is weak—not something for “go-getters” to be bothered with. Big mistake! If we want God, who has ultimate control of how things go in the universe, to be kind to us, we’d better be kind to others.
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy
Proverbs 12:10 Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel. or in another translations, If God wants us to be kind to animals, how much more should we be to undeserving people.
Next, we must make it our goal and habit to be actively looking for opportunities to show kindness. When we see one, we need to act quickly before the opportunity is gone. Part of allowing the full Fruit to work in your life is to strive to apply kindness to your lives in the following ways...
Kindness with your words It’s incredibly easy to be unkind with your words. Saying the first thing that comes to mind, or not taking time to think about your attitude before you speak can result in a lot of hurt feelings and a lot of regretted words. However, it can also be incredibly easy to be kind with your words. How? By taking a little extra time to think about your words before you speak them out loud. This may sound like a lot of work, but it’s really not. Actually, it’s pretty easy. You just need to ask yourself one question: Are these words kind? If the answer is yes, that’s awesome. Clothe yourself in kindness with your words! If the answer is no, then just don’t say them. Think of a different way to say what you want to say, this time using kindness.
What to say and not say should be guided by awareness of the sensitivities of others. We must help people heal from their emotional wounds rather than rubbing salt in those wounds. Sadly, when people know what “buttons to push,” they often use that insight to further hurt each other.
Kindness with your actions Our actions should be kind. This may seem like a “duh” point, but ask yourself—do you take the time to think about whether or not your actions are done in kindness? In the busyness of everyday life, kindness can quickly become something that is shoved aside in favor of convenience. Why? Because it’s just not convenient to be kind! It’s way easier to just be selfish.
Kindness with your Attitude This can be a tricky one. How many of you struggle with having a kind attitude all the time? Think about it—when someone is getting on your nerves, is your attitude toward them kind?
What about when someone is unkind to you? Or what about when things don’t work out the way you wanted them to—does your attitude always show kindness? If this is something you struggle with, ask God to help you! When you feel yourself struggling to have a kind attitude, pray and ask Him to help you have more kindness in your heart and less of whatever else is going on.
Job 6:14 Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” –
Kindness should begin with our kin. Ironically and tragically, many people display their most unkind behavior with the ones they should love the most. God is not unaware of this hypocrisy. God's standard requires being kind to all. Strangers are another subject altogether!! But these people need kindness more than anyone! Persistent efforts to be kind to them can gradually convince them that you are a true friend. Furthermore, your kindness can not only bring about healing for their wounded hearts, but can encourage them to mirror your example, thus filling the world with more kindness!!!
How to cultivate kindness Philippians 2:3-5 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus * Our innate human nature must be replaced by God’s nature, and that can happen by receiving the gift of God’s Spirit dwelling in us and the wonderful fruit it produces: “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Each characteristic here clearly relates to the others. Longsuffering, the previous one explained in this series of articles on the fruit of God’s Spirit, and is an important component of love:
1Corinthians 13:4 “Love suffers long (is patient) and is kind”
Another example is the “virtuous wife” of Proverbs 31 fame, who diligently attends to the needs of her family and of many others. “She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.” (Proverbs 31:20). “And on her tongue, is the law of kindness” (Proverbs 31:26).
May ALL of our tongues be guided by the law of kindness! Jesus Christ practiced kindness that was radical for that time and culture. He always had great concern for women as well as men, for children as well as adults, for other races as well as the Jewish race, and for the sick and weak as well as the strong. Often, He wore Himself out praying for people, healing people, feeding people and helping them in other ways.
When Jesus looked on the multitudes of people with all their problems, sicknesses and confusion, He was “moved with compassion” As we look at the people around us, we, too, should be moved with compassion. We, too, should be helping, giving, sharing, caring, encouraging, extending mercy, filled with compassion and acting on it as we are able—in a word, kind.
With each of us, may the fruit of kindness continue to blossom and grow. Above all, may we strive to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who personified God’s best in the greatest example of loving-kindness
Prayer:
Dear God, If I cannot be brilliant, let me be kind. If I cannot change the world, let me inspire just one other to do so. If I cannot give away riches, let me be loving. Let me be known for kindness, for it is the greatest glory in your eyes! I love you Lord. AMEN!
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