As a progressive, I believe there are many names for God and many ways to God; this article reflects one of those ways. Take from here what works for you. Celebrate life with joy and peace!
There’s a list called the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 – as we stay connected to God – the Spirit of God will grow in us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These wonderful qualities are attributes of God – available to everyone. Let’s allow God’s light to shine in us, so that it will nourish the health and maturity of this fruit of the Spirit.
Here’s a verse that talks about true kindness. Paul is speaking to the church in Ephesus, saying: “Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love…”
Wow! What a list. To consistently live up to all this is humanly impossible, but, I remind you, with God, all things are possible!
How important is kindness? A few years back there was a study of 37 cultures around the world, 16,000 participants were asked about their most desired traits in a partner. For both sexes, the first preference was kindness!
Who doesn’t want to be treated with kindness? Kindness starts with caring – being tenderhearted and compassionate.
The Greek work for “kind” is chrestos. The word can translate kind, loving, merciful – and part of its meaning is “useful” which indicates that the kindness referred to involves action. In I John 3:18 we read, “Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions.”
Action includes some kind of self-sacrifice and generosity on our part. And action also includes words. Encouraging words of comfort, courtesy, compliments and even correction can be heartwarming acts of kindness. Kindness can also be healing.
I like how one pastor put it, “Genuine kindness is lending a helping hand when you expect nothing in return.”
Remember the definition of love from I Corinthians 13? Love is patient … love is kind. The love is patient part indicates that love endures and the love is kind part involves action; it’s an outward focus. Kindness is good for your relationships! The love is kind part can transform so-so relationships into great relationships! Love, the binding force in relationships, the foundation in relationships in this context is not just a feeling, but an action. Love is kind … and love is being kind.
I love the book of Proverbs – the last chapter is all about a virtuous woman. She has so many great qualities. In chapter 31, verse 26 we read this: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.”
Isn’t that beautiful? “The law of kindness.” The word for “law” here is Torah, the same word that’s used for “law” in the Bible. “The Torah of kindness.” And the word for “kindness” is a word that’s generally used to mean “mercy.” But it’s also translated “kindness” and “loving kindness.”
Is the law of kindness on your tongue? Is the law of kindness in your actions? Is the law of kindness in your life?
As a fruit of the Spirit, kindness is a characteristic of God and as we stay connected to God it will grow and mature.
Let’s ask ourselves, “Am I a kind person?” Or maybe we want to ask, “What kind of person am I?” Is kindness demonstrated in my life? Is kindness demonstrated in how I speak? Is kindness demonstrated in how I conduct myself? How do I show loving kindness?
Listen to this child’s definition of loving kindness. A teacher asked the students to tell the meaning of “loving kindness.” A little boy jumped up and said, “Well, if I was hungry and someone gave me a piece of bread that would be kindness; but if they put a little jam on it, that would be loving kindness.” Out of the mouth of babes! Loving kindness is going that extra measure. At least, that’s his definition of it.
I love the story of Ruth and Naomi and love using it in weddings, where it’s often quoted but it’s not usually noted that it’s two people of the same sex who are saying, “Entreat me not to leave you. Where you go, I will go. Your people will be my people and your God my God …” But that’s not what I want to share with you.
Naomi realized in the book of Ruth that the blessing of kindness is not just random; it doesn’t come from us alone; God can promote it and inspire it in others. In Ruth 2, verse 20, after Ruth had been going through the field looking for grain and Boaz (this man who has his eye on Ruth) told his workers, “Don’t take everything, drop the grain as you go along,” and Naomi said to Ruth – “Blessed be he by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!”
This man was inspired to do acts of kindness! Have you ever been inspired to do acts of kindness? Maybe by your actions you’ve inspired others to do acts of kindness.
You know of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, right? Do you know how it was originally written and why?
Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata has thrilled countless millions of people. It’s a master interpretation in sound in the unspeakable glory of the moonlit night. This beautiful piece of music was created because the composer wanted to give something of himself and his talent to a blind girl.
This woman could not see the beauties of a moonlight night. Blind was she to the silver sheen on the trees and shrubs and grass. Blind was she to the silver shimmering on the lake. Blind was she to the world of milky white in the sky.
So the thoughtful and selfless Beethoven put his genius to work. He would tell her, not merely in words, but in sound, of the beauty that her eyes could not see. As a result, the world has been enriched, and he gave the best of his talent in a selfless act of kindness. So, the Moonlight Sonata was written because of his kindness expressed to a blind woman.
Our Scripture reading in Ephesians 4 encourages us and exhorts us to practice kindness, to live kindness, to have kindness in our lives and to put on and wear kindness every day.
Kindness does not mean weakness. It doesn’t mean you can’t deal with problems and situations. Kindness doesn’t mean you don’t deal with tough love when tough love is necessary. Kindness doesn’t mean that you’re a doormat ; but kindness does mean you have compassion and care and you think about the other person and you care enough to go beyond just thinking.
I like this quote by John Wesley, “Do all the good you can by all the means you can in all the ways you can in all the places you can at all the times you can to all the people you can as long as ever you can.”
AARP Bulletin: “Kindness can restore hope and bring fresh strength to those who are desperate to believe someone cares.”
In our manner, in our way of life, in our speech and actions – let the fruit of the Spirit of kindness grow in your life as you stay connected to God.
What an inspiring, enjoyable people we will be as we practice and live the law of kindness. Amen.
