The baby threw up her breakfast—all over the kitchen. She was crying and both of us were covered in pureed pears. Then, a telemarketer called, followed by a prerecorded political message. When the phone rang a third time and it was the handyman announcing his imminent arrival, I yelled: “Will you have to come inside to fix the vent?” As I hung up the phone, I felt terrible for being so unkind.
As Christians, we’re called to be kind (Ephesians 4:32). It may sound basic, but in a society that worships sarcastic comebacks and “me-first” attitudes, kindness is a lost art.
Julius, a high-ranking Roman official, was kind to his prisoner Paul. On their maritime voyage to Rome, Julius let Paul “go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs” (Acts 27:3). Julius was lenient when he could have been strict; permissive instead of controlling—all to ensure Paul’s comfort. Kindness lends a helping hand.
Kindness also protects the lives of defenseless people. At one point in Paul’s journey, powerful waves began to shred the boat into toothpicks. The guards decided to kill the prisoners rather than let them escape into the water. “But [Julius] wanted to spare Paul” (Acts 27:43), so he put a stop to their evil plot. Amazingly, everyone made it safely to Malta. The islanders were very kind there; in the cold and rain, they kindled a welcoming fire (Acts 28:2). Like the people of Malta, kindness may require us to show hospitality and greet newcomers with open arms.
Maybe kindness is calling you to feed the hungry or to protect the defenseless. Whatever you do, remember that each selfless act reflects God’s kind heart toward us: “[God] is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son” (Ephesians 1:7).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 2 Samuel 9:1-13
More:
Read Matthew 25:35-40 to see why kindness matters to Jesus.
Next:
In what ways has God showered His kindness on you? What can you do to show kindness to someone this week?
will77 on April 4, 2011 at 5:46 am
I think one thing you can do is first be aware of the power of the presence of God within you, and look outward with the heart and eyes of God at the people who cross your path throughout a day. I so often finish my devotions and time with the Lord and pray then click into my work mode and dont see the people around me in the way that God may want me to see. So I have to pupose to slow down and see people with the eyes of God and there all around with many opportunities to show the love and kindness of God
Paul t on April 4, 2011 at 6:27 am
so right Will…do my devotions in the morning and then slip into work mode. I guess that’s why they are called “acts” of kindness. I have to remember to do the act of kindness, and with the Lord’s help, it gets a little easier every day. Amen
eppistle on April 4, 2011 at 8:00 am
It’s interesting that Julius (an officer in the Roman army) and the islanders were most likely all non-Christians. I have a pastor friend who had served in the military and he told me that in all his years in the military he had never met people as unkind as some of the people he had pastored in his former church.
How tragic it is when church people in their quest for their pet project or for doctrinal purity become unkind Pharisees! That’s not to say that we shouldn’t be passionate about our ministry or doctrine, but let’s not let the end (the ministry and doctrine) justify the means (unkindness). If we do, we’ll most likely turn off the next generation to our ministry and our doctrine.
jennifer benson schuldt on April 4, 2011 at 9:57 am
A good warning. I think there is a difference between being “nice” and being “kind”. It’s easy to play the “nice game” and put on a happy face. True kindness is different. It’s what comes out when we are bumped, pushed or prodded. I like to think of it this way: kindness comes from the inside, while “niceness” is like a piece of clothing we wear on the outside.
GChoo on April 4, 2011 at 11:47 am
Eppistle, how true with what you shared. This act of unkindness has been happening and is still happening in churches. We can see around us especially in the world, empty church buildings, congregation that remain small where so many people out there in the community are not attracted to them. We asked why? That’s because kindness was and is still missing. Also, those reasons as you have shared.
I have heard of foreign ministers disappointed to see some churches that they had worshipped during their further theology studies, who did not even bothered to get to know them even after a few visits.
We have to pray for these churches that God’s grace and mercy be on them. I once read a book ‘The Sensitivity of the Spirit’ by R.T. Kendall. I believe it is happening in these churches that the Holy Spirit is no longer there, it is just a house but not a home.
jennifer benson schuldt on April 4, 2011 at 3:03 pm
What a sad, yet accurate, picture you painted of church buildings that stand empty today. Church is a place where non-Christians should be able to come and find grace, love, truth and genuine help.
There are many wonderful congregations that are kind and supportive, and yet others need to reconnect with God’s kindness and then improve at passing it along to people both within and outside of the walls of the church.
lak on April 4, 2011 at 9:01 am
A wonderful exhortation, Jennifer.
Thank you.
OnMyWayHome on April 4, 2011 at 10:56 am
As an older Ex-Marine and then a journeyman I am well versed in ‘Snappy Answers to Stupid Question’. I am in a struggle now as I am to work with a new church I’m attending yet not let on as to how much I know, even more to allow the couple in charge to be in charge without having to take charge. This is intending a well-spoken Word today and I really need it and more to grow in being more subservient to another.
I just wrote yesterday “Submit to another instead of going over their heads” and yet I like:
kindness comes from the inside, while “niceness” is like a piece of clothing we wear on the outside.
Thank you Jennifer
daisymarygoldr on April 4, 2011 at 1:10 pm
This is one area that I struggle with. In a professional way I tend to be kind to people at work. But at home, I snap at my husband and daughter and the next minute I wonder why I did it.
To find out the reason for not being nice, it helped to identify my hot buttons. Once, during conversations at another blog site, I discovered that when Christians quote Gandhi—it was an emotional trigger that makes my blood boil. By responding with angry words I never realized I was upset until I reflected back on why I got so angry.
There were occasions when slapped in the face with insulting words I hit back to make sure they got a taste of their own medicine. But there were also times when the fingers worked faster than the brain to craft a cruel comment—and I chose to yield and let the Holy Spirit take control of me.
Stress does brings out the worst from within me but then that is no excuse for being unkind to someone else. It is easier to be kind when others are kind to me. But kindness in the face of conflict is the test of true kindness. It is the fruit of the Spirit. God is the very root of that fruit and there is no way I can ever boast about it.
Godly kindness is very refreshing especially when it is shown to a stranger. Love is patient and kind… It makes me feel ashamed of myself, if someone shows Christ-like patience and kindness to me even though I did not deserve it. Brotherly kindness ministers to me in a practical way and compels me to be kind to others.
Lack of kindness often ruptures relationships. While I cannot retrieve the hurtful words I can always help repair and minimize the damage. Instead of living in remorse and regret, it is better to apologize right away the moment my callous attitude is brought to my attention. The kindness of God means to act kindly even when I am not in the mood.
Thanks jennifer benson schuldt for reminding me to be kind!
jennifer benson schuldt on April 4, 2011 at 2:46 pm
daisymarygoldr, you touched on something that many of us can relate to–the relationship between stress and unkindness. From my experience, it can be very difficult to be kind to everyone (even people who are unkind) when I am under stress or when I have not rested. That is another reason why yesterday’s post–which encouraged us to rest–was so important.
However, with rest or without it, when we walk with the Holy Spirit, it is still possible to be kind. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22 says: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…
OnMyWayHome on April 4, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Please strike my previous words.
All I really want is to have a servants heart and to help those who need work done or work with. Yet to care more about the person and not the job that’s HARD!
I’ve been goal and task oriented all my life, trained to get the job done no matter what.
Its hard to change and have my eyes opened to listen, hear their hurts, their needs….and to see people as Jesus would.
I did not want to post a long message as I did not want to take away from today’s post.
There are more people that need the Lord and my heart has to be right when working either alongside them or for them.
deb9237 on April 4, 2011 at 7:30 pm
kindness is timeless….and i thank the Lord for reminding all of us that this 8-lettered word can soften hardened hearts, can finish the unfinished work, and can do a lot of things that worldly beings couldn’t imagine…and kindness doesn’t expect an ROI, it’s free, evat-free even…and doesn’t have to be announced….Proverbs 21:21 says it all.