Kindness is a command. It is also the fifth virtue listed in the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The word kindness comes to us from the Greek word "chrestotes," which is sometimes translated "gentleness." In his comments on 2 Corinthians 6:6, Plummer said of "chrestotes," this quality is the sympathetic kindliness or sweetness of temper that puts others at ease, and shrinks from giving pain. This kindness demands that one consider another's feelings and seek to enhance his joy, rather than to make him unhappy. We should desire to help, instead of hurt (Cf. 1 Peter 3:8; Colossians 3:12-13; 2 Corinthians 6:6; Romans 2:4, 11:22). It is interesting to note that even heathen philosophers believe that through kindness, man becomes kin to God.
In this study, let us note a few passages that attribute this virtue to God, and let us note some examples of God's kindness toward man. Then let us note how we are to emulate God's kindness toward others in our own lives.
Again and again, the Septuagint version of the Old Testament uses "chrestotes" to describe God's kindness. The Psalmist sang: "Give thanks to God for he is kind, for his steadfast love lasts forever." (Psalm 106:1, 107:1, 136:1) William Barclay commented, "What moves the heart of the Psalmist is not God's moral goodness, it is His sheer kindness. His only claim to God's gifts, and his only hope of forgiveness lie in the fact that God is kind; his only prayer is that God should hear him because God is kind, and that God should be merciful to him because God is kind (Psalm 69:16, 86:3, 100:5, 109:21). "Remember me," he prays, "according to thy steadfast love, for thy kindness' sake, O Lord." (Psalm 25:7) (Flesh and Spirit, pg. 98)
God expresses His kindness in many ways. For example, nature's bounty is an expression of God's kindness. The Psalmist said, "The Lord will give kindness and our land shall yield her fruit." (Psalm 85:12; Cf. Psalm 64:11)
We see God's kindness in the revelation of His will to men. "Thou art kind; therefore, in thy kindness teach me thy ordinances." (Psalm 119:65-68)
The New Testament also speaks of God's kindness and forbearance, "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" (Romans 2:4) God's kindness provides the means by which man is forgiven. Thus, the supreme illustration of God's kindness is His willingness to give His son, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:7, 4:32).
We need to remember that we should not regard God's kindness as an opportunity to sin. God's kindness walks hand in hand with His severity (Romans 11:22). He was intolerant of the unrighteous before the flood. Genesis 6:5-7 says, "Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them."
When God sent fire from heaven to obliterate their city (Genesis 19), the homosexuals at Sodom saw that truth matters. Truth on this issue is not obscure.
- "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination..."
- "And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them..."
- "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, having in like manner with these given themselves over to fornication and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire." (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Jude 7; Cf. Romans 1:26-27)
If Nadab and Abihu had lived, they would have told of God's intolerance concerning the strange fire they offered without divine authority (Leviticus 10:1-3). Indeed, "Every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward." (Hebrews 2:2) We cannot manifest proper respect for truth and godliness by tolerating error and sin that God has openly opposed. The command to be kind is not the equivalent of a command to be passive.
However, God demands that we be kind. For it is kindness that makes a man a good man. To neglect kindness is to invite God's condemnation. I must "put on... kindness" (Colossians 3:12) as a part of my Christian life. This means "forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye." (Colossians 3:13) Paul wrote, "Be ye kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32) He also wrote, "Love suffereth long and is kind." (1 Corinthians 13:4)
The wisdom writer affirmed, "That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness." (Proverbs 19:22) He also described the worthy woman, "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and the law of kindness is on her tongue." (Proverbs 31:26)
The attitude that motivates kindness toward others is the same attitude that motivated God's kindness to us. Paul wrote, "Doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others..." (Philippians 2:3-4) Wouldn't a little kindness cure a lot of ills?
Kindness is indeed a lovely thing. It doesn't cost any money, but it does cost part of ourselves. The lovely thing about kindness is that it causes us to treat others the way that God treats us.
Brother Galloway reminds us that it is our duty to make kindness one of the attributes that we, as God's children, possess. For many years, those of the homosexual lifestyle have misrepresented us. They say we "hate them." This statement is inaccurate. We hate the sin-not the sinner. God loves all souls-no matter the sin in which they are found. But how does a Christian show "kindness" to the sinner if he doesn't warn him concerning his lifestyle?
How do God's own people show kindness to one another if in their hearts, they bear ill will toward one another? A brother who makes no effort to "fix a problem" shows no kindness by that behavior? What if one sees a brother or sister living in an ungodly way and offers no warning concerning the consequences of such conduct? If we are kind, we will show the brother the error and how he can correct it.
Brethren, many times we accuse fellow Christians of being "unkind" because they correctly point out sin in our lives. Such understanding has truly "missed the mark." This type of kindness should never waver among those in God's household. Thank God for the brethren who are "kind" enough to warn others about falling back into sin. May their tribe increase! (KMG)