Kindness: Thoughts and Ramblings

"Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart." -Proverbs 3:3

"The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds" -Psalm 145:17

"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men." -Luke 6:35

"But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY." -1 Peter 2:9-10


"So that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light..." We have been called out of darkness... We have been adopted as sons and daughters by the Lord of Creation. He has given us hope and a future with Him!

What does this have to do with kindness? It has everything to do with kindness! We are told to "...proclaim the excellencies..." of our God. As I have stated before, this need not even be with words, but can be displayed through our interaction with others. Jesus said, "So then, you will know them [His followers] by their fruits." (Matt. 7:20) What are our fruits? They are exactly what we have been studying and will be studying in the next few weeks.

This is why kindness is so crucial in our lives... because it is one of the most tangible evidences of love in our lives. An act of kindness is easily recognized in today's busy world. If you stop to help someone who is struggling you are now the exception, rather than the rule. We have lost kindness in our schedule-controlled lifestyle and are amazed when someone makes an effort to help someone else out of sheer kindness... with no expectations of gaining anything in return. This is nearly unheard of in today's society.

We must be the movers, the shakers, the standard breakers! As Christians it is our job to "...appear as lights in the world." (Phil. 2:15). Kindness is one of our most effective tools as an opportunity for sharing the Gospel with others. Sometimes you don't have to say a word about Christ, though I think it best to use every opportunity to do so, but people will ask you if you are a Christian simply because of a marked difference in your character. This is when it is crucial that we not hold ourselves aloft, filled with pride, and "admit" to our status of "Christ follower." God forbid that our kindness ever be a tool of pride! Do not fall into the slippery pits of the hypocrites, for their reward has been received in full. They got the attention that they so desired. But rather, with humility, serve others with the same kindness that you would want to be treated with.

This may all seem elementary to you... try applying it then! How elementary is it, really? It may be fundamental, but laying aside pride and recognition, taking the attitude of a slave, denying our own wants and desires... these are not elementary things... Our sinful nature swells up within us, in indignation, when we are not praised for our good deeds. Swallow your pride! Does that sound elementary to you?

I do not say these things to be harsh... but because I so desire to accomplish these very things in my own life. It is not easy to serve when you know that you will, most likely, not receive anything in return... especially if you know that nobody else will probably even notice your deeds. But this is when we are most blessed by our Father in Heaven, who sees all things, whether done in secret or in the open. Our joy should come from the joy that we see in others when we show them the kindness of Christ.

Friends, this is what has been weighing heavily on my heart, this morning. Humility... kindness is not kindness without humility. It is an attempt at personal gain, otherwise.... or it is done with an unwilling spirit. To simply do the right thing because it's the right thing to do... that is no reason at all, but to do what is right because it's what Christ would do and because we desire to be more like Him... this is what being a Christian is all about! We must truly begin to understand what it means to "take up our cross" and follow Christ.

I hope that you have learned and been encouraged from what has been covered in this study of kindness... I too am learning these things as I share them with you. That being said, I hope that I have not been too repetitious in what I have covered. However, I feel that this is one of those concepts that has been so lost by our churches and our people today that there cannot be enough emphasis put on it's role in our lives. The kindness that you show, Friends, is simply an outward sign of the inward change that has been brought about by the kindness that Christ has shown in saving you!

Go, therefore, and be changers, movers, breakers, and Christ followers who shine as lights in the universe, casting light on this darkened world. Show the light of Christ as you go about your day!

Grace and Peace!


Questions or Comments? E-mail me at afflquestions@yahoo.com .