We have heard others referring to a person as being kind-hearted. The image that comes to my mind of kindness is any one of the many elderly women; grandmother types who have touched my life in a kind and gentle way. Not looking for reciprocation, they have a heart of gold that just wants to give. Many of them were widows, whose children may have moved far away and they are alone. Their countenance lights up like a Christmas tree when you visit them and they are eager to entertain you. They have great hospitality and are quick to feed you and give to you generously out of their meager substance. They are like the widow who gave all she had.
Luke 21:1-4 ESV Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, (2) and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. (3) And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. (4) For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
It goes against our carnal and human nature to show kindness to strangers. In our world that lives apart from God, many people are concerned only with their own life; but God has called us to have hearts like the Good Samaritan, to show kindness to all who cross our paths in need.
Luke 10:30-36 ESV Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. (31) Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. (32) So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. (33) But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. (34) He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. (35) And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' (36) Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"
A number of administrations ago, an American President spoke about our country becoming a “kinder, gentler nation.” That seemed to draw more ridicule than support. There is a common thought that kindness is viewed as weakness. It does seem that kind and good people become targets of fraud because they are an easy mark and people abuse their kindness and goodness. God speaks against those who would abuse kindness and the goodness.
Psalms 109:2, 5, 16 ESV For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. (5) So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love (16) For he did not remember to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and the brokenhearted, to put them to death.
Often, it seems as if evil gets rewarded with good and good with evil. Some very wicked people appear to go unpunished at the expense of the weak and vulnerable. But God sees all and there will be a day of reckoning. Death does not insulate the wicked from the penalty of sin. God will not be mocked. This scripture gives me great comfort when injustice seems to prevail.
Galatians 6:7 ESV Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
God is faithful to His promises. Remember, we are on God’s time table and not our own. We may not live in the flesh to see all injustices righted, but we will be rewarded in eternity with honor while the wicked will be eternally punished.
Proverbs 21:21 ESV Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.
We have been chosen by God to put on God’s character and to express God’s love to our fellow man; extending to each other all that the LORD has extended to us; bear one another with a forgiving and compassionate heart. It is God’s love in us and through us; extended to each other, that binds us in unity together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:12-14 ESV Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, (13) bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (14) And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
God did not find us as perfect people. It was not our kindness and goodness that has saved us; God saved us according to His own mercy. Then only after washing our hearts; in repentance, baptism and regeneration, by the Holy Spirit; can kindness and goodness live in us. Without the regeneration of the Holy Ghost, we could not please God and be like Him..
Titus 3:4-5 ESV But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, (5) he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
We must know the WORD of God. It is the only way we can receive faith from God. Living in His WORD, we will be led the regeneration of our lives by the Holy Spirit. Only upon being filled with the Holy Ghost will our lives bear fruit of God’s Spirit and we will please God by our inward person and by expressing that inner SPIRIT of God toward others in kindness and goodness.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are perfect in your ways. You are Kindness and Goodness. Fill me with your SPIRIT so that I may please you and be a light of your way to all who cross my path; In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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