As we continue with the Fruit of the Spirit, we will talk about kindness. Kindness can have such an impact in people’s lives. Even a smile can brighten a person’s day. I think along with that is generosity which is a form of kindness. Helping others in need. Giving a kind word. Standing up for those who are not strong enough to stand up for themselves. This can go a long way in changing a person’s outlook on life and changing an attitude, both for the giver and the receiver.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Romans 12:9-15
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Having the fruit of the Spirit starts with love. When you love others, each part of the fruit falls into place. Being kind is one way to show love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Loving others starts with kindness. How can you say you love someone and not be kind to them? When you have the love of Christ in you, you should naturally be kind to others. Not just those who you are close to, but to all others.
Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
This is a hard one for many of us. Some people are just hard to get along with. An act of kindness can go a long way into mending relationships or at least ease the tension. Maybe it won’t change them or they won’t have gratitude, but your Father in heaven will see it and if you love Him, that should be enough. What you do to others and how you treat them reflects how much you love Jesus.
Matthew 25:31-40
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Along with love (and all of the fruit of the Spirit), being kind and being generous go hand in hand. This goes along with the Golden Rule:
Matthew 7:12
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Or as many of us remember it, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” We all have something to give to others to help them in their need and to encourage them. God has blessed each of us in some way (in many ways). I believe these blessings were not just for ourselves. They were so that we can share those blessings and bless others. Considering all that Christ has done for us, how can we not share that love with others? Afterall, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…” (Ephesians 2:10)
1 John 3:16-17
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Giving is a way to show kindness. It comes in many forms. Giving financially so that needs of others can be met or so that we can support those who are on a mission working with others; giving our time to just listen or to provide goods for those in need; giving our talents to help others or even giving a smile to someone that is having a bad day. Maybe it is showing hospitality by opening your home to someone or giving a ride or helping with an event or dinner for others. There are so many ways we can show kindness.
Hebrews 13:1-3
Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.
1 Peter 4:8-10
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “LOVE WILL COVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Love and kindness go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other. Let us love God and love others. Those two go hand in hand as well. May the Lord bless you this and every day.
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