SEVEN WAYS TO KINDNESS

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, meekness, self-control;
against such there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22, 23 ASV)

Linton Roe

IN THE Spring edition of Connections, we learned that there is much to be gained from showing patience and little to be gained from losing it. God has shown great patience with us, so it is worth our while exercising patience with others, as it has value both now and in the future.
What do we understand by the next fruit of the spirit, kindness?

Interestingly, the King James Version uses the word “gentleness”. Whichever word we use, it indicates a quality or characteristic that people can have; one of being useful to ourselves and others, or of a standard of moral excellence.

Perhaps it is easier to understand by thinking of examples.
We usually think of people who are kind as those who give us unexpected gifts, or do something nice for someone else. Others who show kindness might be good listeners, always able to empathise with or support us when we are having difficulties.
When I think about people in the Bible who showed great kindness, a number of key characters come to mind. When Abram and Lot came to the Promised Land, there was strife among the herdsmen, so Abram offered Lot the choice of land before them, allowing his nephew to take the most fertile and desirable section (Genesis 13).

Some time later in history, Joseph, having previously been ill-treated and sold as a slave by his own brothers, found them totally at his mercy, bowing before him. Yet his heart yearned for reconciliation and, after testing their sincerity, he invited the whole family to come to Egypt, to share in its abundant food, when they might otherwise have died of starvation in Canaan (Genesis 45:4 to 7). When anger and retribution could have been on his mind, he showed great gentleness through forgiving them and lifting them up.

The New Testament also has a great many examples of gentleness. On one occasion during his ministry, Jesus went through Samaria, although there was bad blood between Samaritans and Jews, and they tended to avoid each other.
A woman with a rather chequered background spoke with him and drew water for him from Jacob’s well. He did not criticise, chastise or avoid her, but gave her a great gift, telling her that he was the Messiah, and offering her the opportunity of living water, if she would believe in him (John 4 and 5 records this story).

On many occasions, although he was very tired, Jesus got up and went out to heal some of the many sick people who were waiting for him outside the door (e.g. Mark 1:32 to 39). He did not rebuke them for their sins or problems, but healed them of their illnesses, and exhorted them to put their trust in God.
Paul and Silas, ill-treated and locked in prison, were released from their bonds by an earthquake. When the jailer saw that the prisoners had been released, he intended to commit suicide, yet the apostles called out to him then preached the gospel to him, and his whole family was baptised (Acts 16:22 to 34). Paul and Silas showed great kindness towards him, when they could easily have wished for retribution, since he was one of their captors.

Paul’s letter to the Romans tells us that God showed great kindness to His chosen people in their age, by selecting them to be part of His family (Romans 11:22). Paul explains, though, that we must continue in God’s kindness, otherwise God can exclude us too, as He did to the Jews who rejected Jesus. Hence God’s kindness towards us should spur us on to be kind towards one another.

So as we seek to show greater kindness, here are a few practical ideas we could consider:
1. Pray — ask God to give you the courage to show kindness when opportunities arise.
2. Write — jot down the names of people who might need a helping hand, or ideas for how you could be more kind.
3. Listen — allow someone to explain their hardships to you without feeling the need to correct them.
4. Speak — consider a kind word that you could say to the next person you meet.
5. Act — next time you see a small job needing to be done, decide that you will do it, and do it!
6. Give — offer someone 30 minutes of your time, rather than your money. Visit an elderly person.
7. Think — consider how we might serve God better, since He has shown such kindness to us through giving us Jesus and knowledge of the gospel.
May God bless you, as you seek to serve Him, who first showed us such kindness.

* Linton Roe worships at RAFT.