Choosing to Be Kind

The Words of our Master Jesus in Matthew 7:12(NIV) are known as the Golden Rule. He said, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” He’s not stringing words together just for the sake of doing so. He’s teaching us about God’s Law. Whatever we put out there is coming back to us, and this works with a mathematical precision. God said this with razor-sharp clarity in Galatians 6:7(NKJV), “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” This law makes kindness so important, because when our actions, behaviors, and attitudes are clothed in it, we leave a trail of God’s goodness that will always boomerang back to us. 

The Apostle Paul said in 2Corinthians 6:1, 6(NLT), “1 As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.” The kindness that God has bestowed upon us is too wonderful for mere words. He has given us the life of His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Through Christ, He has redeemed and reconciled us back to Himself, and Ephesians 1:3 tells us that He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing because of our union with Christ. This is kindness beyond what any of us could ever have imagined, and we have the great privilege and responsibility to put God’s kindness on full display. 

Kindness is one of the ways we prove ourselves as God’s children of light. Like patience, grace, generosity, and gentleness, kindness is an outward demonstration of our inward excellence of character. It is a virtue that drives Godly and ethical decisions, and it helps us to leave a trail of God’s love with everything we do. People who practice kindness behave that way not to receive accolades and praise; they know that it is God’s standard and therefore, it is the right way to behave. They are also aware that kindness begets kindness. They want to be treated kindly and this is what they’re committed to putting out there. They’ve made this Godly quality a lifestyle, and this is what God expects from all of us. 

Ephesians 5:1(NLT) tells us to “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.” This is exactly what our Lord and Savior did when he carried out his ministry on earth, and again, we must do this as well. Kindness is showing love by being warmhearted, considerate, thoughtful, sympathetic, and understanding. It’s one of the many Godly and holy traits of the character and behavior of Jesus Christ. So, being kind and tenderhearted is not a burden or weakness. It’s a privilege, and there is no other way to see it. 

Some of us have been praying for job promotions, marriage, better relationships, increased financial stability, and greater physical health, but we’ve not linked the condition of our attitudes to our ability or inability to reach out and grab all that God has in store. We’ve not recognized the extent to which a good attitude and kindness can propel us forward and higher in the blessings of God. He commands us to demonstrate His good nature, and part of the reason He tells us to do this is because God’s nature is blessed. Imitating His nature transfers that blessedness not just to us, but to our circumstances and conditions. The rewards and blessings of God expand us in phenomenal ways, so it is to our great benefit to be kind. When we’ve learned to demonstrate kindness from the heart, we walk in God’s ooey-gooey goodness, and this is the kind of attitude that pleases our Heavenly Father. 

Kindness is behind all the good that humans do, and it enables us to both establish, nurture, and maintain relationships with our Heavenly Father, and with others and ourselves. 1John 3:18(NLT) tells us, “18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” As God’s children, we should be better at showing our love for others than saying it. There are some who merely say the words. They’ve made an art of saying one thing and doing another, and this often promotes disappointment and disagreement. When it comes to our spouses, children, and others we hold dear in our hearts, we must make it a habit to back up our kind words with the actions that prove it, because this builds trust.

Kindness and faithfulness are missing in a lot of relationships. Even with those we claim to love the most, we sometimes become too comfortable with things. Routines take over, and we forget to minister to them with special touches of kindness that truly touch their hearts. We must remember that our responsibility as God’s children is to leave a lasting legacy of His love. This means we must understand how the love of God behaves. 1Corinthians 13:4-7(NLT) tells us, “4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” This passage paints the most beautiful portrait of the love of God, and if we allow our lives to mirror it, they along with our relationships will be so much richer. 

The quality of a life isn’t measured by how much money or material possessions we own. What matters most to our Heavenly Father is how many lives we’ve impacted and influenced with His brand of love and kindness. We need to know that being kind is a choice that helps us avoid negative consequences, and it frees us to truly live a Godly life. Our Heavenly Father is the Model and Source of true kindness, and if we will seek to please Him and imitate His ways, His incomparable sweetness will be added to all that we do.■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. 

 “Choosing to Be Kind”, written for 4theChristianMan.com© 2024. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

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