'Tis the Season to be...Kind

Written by Ed Allen
 Saturday, 15 December 2001 19:00

The Person You Always Wanted to Be

'Tis the season to be kind. When the Bible speaks of kindness it usually has in mind doing good for those who are unfortunate. For example, Proverbs 14:31 contrasts kindness with oppressing the needy.

Proverbs 14:31

"(31) He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."

Another way to think of kindness is love demonstrated. Kindness is a valuable quality. It is part of the profile of the sort of people we want to be. And the good news is: it is a fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-25

"(16) So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (17) For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. (18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. (19) The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; (20) idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions (21) and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (24) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. (25) Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."

God commands us to be kind - Ephesians 4:32 - but why?

Ephesians 4:32

"(32) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

  1. Kindness is a personal benefit.

Proverbs 11:17

"(17) A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself."

  • Social psychologists Anthony Stenta and William Dejong studied the domino effects of kindness and found those who are treated with a kind word or deed are significantly more likely to behave kindly in return.
  • This is so clearly the case, that marketers manipulate this well-known principle. For example, Deen Rieck, writing an article called "Harnessing the power of Kindness," for Direct Marketing magazine said, "kindness is one marketing strategy which could be effective not only because it is hard to resist, but also because recipients will feel indebted and obligated to return such kindness. One of the general guidelines for making kindness work is by offering anything for free."

  1. Kindness benefits others.

  • It offers encouragement and gives hope. Diane and I recently received money in the mail anonymously.
  • Kindness even has the power to encourage change. It is a "Gentle answer (that) turns away wrath." The Bible also tells us that it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. (Even though we like to believe it is argument that changes people. Or badgering. Or coldness.
  • Perhaps this is why kindness is such a centerpiece of relationship dynamics as they are spelled out in the New Testament.
  • This is certainly why we like this time of year so much. All of the Scrooges around us and within us turn into Nice guys and the Grinches among us have their hearts enlarged. And we recognize what a wonderful, contagious, exciting comfortable world it is when people are kind to one another.

  1. When we are kind we draw others to God.

  • We've already mentioned that it is God's kindness that leads us to repentance. In the same vein, our kindness draws others to God.
  • Jesus' best friend Peter once said, "live such good lives among unbelievers that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits." Our kind acts point people toward God.

  1. When we are kind we reflect God's character.

  • Hesed - favorite expression of God's sentiment toward us in OT
  • God's kindness is incomparable according to Ephesians 2:7

Ephesians 2:7

"(7) in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."

  • It is also indiscriminate. God is kind to all.

Luke 6:35

"(35) But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."

Matthew 5:45

"(45) that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

  • God's kindness finds concrete expression is Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:6-7

"(6) And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, (7) in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."

  • This kindness, according to the Bible, disarmed our enemies.
  • Illustration of WWII.
  • "If Jesus were in town he would be saying things, but he would also be doing things. He would be demonstrating God's love through kindness."
  • Columnist Cal Thomas: "love talked about is easily ignored, but love demonstrated is irresistible."
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