TEXT:

‘Love suffers long and is kind’ (1 Corinthians 13:4)

THOUGHT:

Another word for humanity is mankind. If the syllables were reversed how much better it would read – Kindman! How this world needs a good dose of kindness. The Bible also uses the word ‘lovingkindness’, and this is what God displays towards us that helps draw us to Him in the first place.

‘How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings’ (Psalm 36:7).

‘Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies’ (Psalm 103:4).

‘I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm’ (Jonah 4:2).

Today’s Teaching focusses on five aspects about kindness that we need to be aware of.

• It’s an add-on to our faith – ‘But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love’ (2 Peter 1:5-7)

We may be better at some of these add-ons than others, but kindness is one area we must keep working on. It’s all too easy to fall back into selfishness and become inconsiderate about the needs of others. Paul had to remind the Corinthian church to show kindness to the poor Christians suffering persecution and poverty in Jerusalem.¹

• It’s a fruit of the Spirit – ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control’ (Galatians 5:22-23)

Note ‘kindness’ is preceded by ‘longsuffering’. It’s the same combination in our text. Paul testified, ‘By longsuffering, by kindness’.² When we suffer there is always the temptation to retaliate and give as good as we got, whether we do that verbally, mentally or physically. Kindness kills that temptation stone dead!

• It enables us to forgive more easily – ‘Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another , even as God in Christ forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32)

Many have experienced increased pressures within the home and workplace during the lockdown. Being unable to release pent-up anger and frustration, by engaging in sport and recreational activities, or even just being able to spend some time on our own, has fuelled resentment and bitterness. What can help us? Kindness! A little kindness can go a long way to overcome the past and help bring about a more enjoyable future. As we keep in mind how God has forgiven us so much, it will help us forgive others also.

• It reassures us about our future – ‘But My kindness shall not depart from you’ (Isaiah 45:10)

Sometimes Christians live in fear of displeasing God and losing His blessing, peace and protection. What a promise Isaiah received from God, ‘My kindness shall not depart’. It was permanent.

God accused Israel of failing to reciprocate, ‘I remember you, the kindness of your youth’ (Jeremiah 2:2). They started off well but did not keep it up. It hurts God when we stop being kind to Him, but His kindness does not stop towards us, as the Prodigal Son found out when he returned home.³

The Psalmist rejoiced saying, ‘Praise the Lord … for His merciful kindness is great toward us’ (Psalm 117:2). Jesus is the perfect image of God’s love and kindness.

• It forges strong working relationships – ‘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”’ (2 Chronicles 10:7)

How do we treat those under us? King Rehoboam rejected the sound counsel of his elders, listening instead to his peers who said, “Show them who is boss!” As a result he lost most of the kingdom. The Bible urges us to treat others in the way we want them to treat us.

Many a business and workplace would be transformed by a little kindness and words of appreciation. Leaders try it, it will work wonders!

Endnotes:

¹ 2 Corinthians 8:7                  ² 2 Corinthians 6:6                  ³ Luke 15:11-32