Fruit of the Spirit ~ Kindness

Kindness: The quality of being friendly generous and considerate.

The use for the word kindness over time has drastically declined in the last 200 years. Why is that? Have people become less kind? Or do we not know the true meaning of the word and use others in its place? Kindness, I believe, is often replaced with the word nice. However, nice simply is to be pleasant and agreeable. Nice is not generous, nice is not considerate. Nice is tolerant.

   Ephesians 4:32
      "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."

God's act of forgiveness wasn't nice, it was kind. He did not have to save us, we are dirty rotten sinners to the core, and some of us still reject His kindness. His mercy and grace upon us is what has saved us, not His ability to be nice, but rather His ability to be kind.

   Psalm 117:2
      "For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord."

You can walk down the street and smile to people that is nice, but is it kind? Kindness would be asking a stranger how they are doing; helping another person when in need.

   2 Peter 1:7
      "to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love."

In my opinion this is a difficult fruit. One that renders the need for several others before you can truly be kind. Kindness comes from love. Love for one another, for the greater good of society. Kindness is telling someone the truth about Christ and his grace towards us. Kindness is giving from yourself and enjoying the look on someones face as they receive a gift of love, or peace, or hope that they have never seen before. Kindness is more then generosity. You can give and not give of yourself. Kindness requires the giving of yourself, your time, and your abilities.

   John 3:16
      "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

This is God's act of kindness. What is yours?