Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Love is Kind
'Love is patient and kind...'
1 Corinthians 13:4
'But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness...'
Galatians 5:22
The Greek word for 'kind' in 1 Corinthians 13:4, is chrestenomai which means 'to show one's self useful, act benevolently'. It is the only time this form of the word is used in the New Testament.
There are two other forms of the word that are used in other verses - chrestos and chrestotes. Their meanings are very similar: useful, better, easy, goodness, gracious, moral excellence, gentleness, kindness. Each time one of these words is used in the New Testament writings it is used with a reference to God's kindness
toward people who are not deserving of kindness. His kindness, is a model of how we should treat people when we are filled with His 'Love'.
Some of the references to God's kindness toward us are found in:
Luke 6:35, 36 - 'He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.'
2 Corinthians 6:6 - 'We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.' (Note the connection between kindness and love)
Ephesians 2:7 - 'So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.'
Ephesians 4:31,32 - 'Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Colossians 3:12 - 'Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.'
Titus 3:4 - 'When God our Savior revealed His kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of His grace He declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.' (Again, note the connection between kindness and love)
Someone said, "Kindness is love in action," and I can see how one could come to that conclusion. Kindness is usually mentioned in the same breath as 'Love' and the examples of what kindness looks like are all action based. It is a given that there are things that we will do when we are filled with 'Love'.
God didn't 'Love' us because we were so sweet and wonderful, nor was it because we were loving and kind toward Him. He loved us when we were out-and-out against Him. His heart knew the horrible ending of our foolish choices in life and He reached out in incredible 'Love' to save us. God's 'Love' is of the quality that will truly, deeply care for a person, even if that person is hateful toward Him. His heart is always seeking their redemption. His heart will always bless them. "It is the kindness of God that leads us to change." (Romans 2:4)
God not only loved us when we didn't deserve it, but He loved us with a great cost to Himself. He gave His most precious treasure, His Son, to a world that hated and abused Him even when He was being loving and kind to them! He sent Jesus to show people what it looks like when a human body is filled with God's 'Love'. He demonstrated how to 'Love', how to be kind, when it was not always convenient or pleasant. He was kind even in the midst of great pain when He was being put to death. He showed kindness when it didn't seem apparent that His 'Love' was having any life-changing impact on the people around Him.
A heart filled with the 'Love' of God produces actions that speak much louder than words. 'Being kind' - reaching out to bless people - flows out of the 'Love' that is in the heart, making that 'Love' tangible, visible.
There are several opportunities in our day to connect with someone in kindness - i.e. the bank teller, the grocery clerk, and the mail delivery person. Giving a smile, expressing thanks for service, being pleasant, patient and understanding - are all expressions of kindness. And, as most of us know and would admit, it is easy to be kind and polite to someone who responds likewise in return.
However, the kindness associated with knowing the 'Love' of God, and the kindness that is referred to in this verse of 1 Corinthians, goes beyond the 'easy' kindness. The 'Love' of God enables me to smile and be polite to people even though they may be grumpy, irritable, cold, demanding, hurtful – to people who are not blessing me in return, or who are not blessing me in the first place! Ouch! This is not a natural response of the human heart, rather, it is the response of a heart that knows and has been changed by knowing the 'Love' of God itself.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN MY EVERYDAY LIFE?
Oh the battle when the rubber meets the road! Our society is so prone to wanting justification and we feel we need to get what is rightfully ours - our money's worth, for sure!
- Be gracious with a waitress. A kind word, encouragement can go a long way to help her in her job.
- Kindness from your heart can bring a 'soft answer' when someone is trying to engage you in a verbal battle.
- Watch for ways to bless someone who is at odds with you. It's amazing what a simple gesture of kindness will do to defuse the animosity in a person's heart.
- Pray for those who are spreading lies about you. Pray a blessing on those who would destroy and discredit you and all you stand for. Ask God for the grace and opportunity to speak well of them.
- Walk in kindness with your children. They will often act unworthy of it, but that is when they need it most. When there is a conflict between parents and young people, resist the temptation to 'make them experience your pain'. Instead, continue to treat them with your parental love – even while consequences are in place. Your communication, your safety, your companionship should not be affected when they are trying to 'go their own way'.
- Understand that this kindness from the 'Love' of God, will require a sacrifice, and like His demonstration of kindness involved the ultimate in the death of Christ, something will have to die in order for me to experience His kindness through me, too. My desire to retaliate or punish will have to die for me to express "Love" – real and genuine - in kindness.
I have looked in the face of a few women who knew how to walk in this 'kindness'. Believe me, the radiance from their souls made it almost painful to look at them – they are captivatingly beautiful, indeed!
Part 4 of 4. Click here for Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.