Brotherly Kindness is Fundamental

In an old Bits and Pieces magazine the story is told of an old Texas woman named Mamie Adams. She always went to a branch post office in her town because the postal employees there were kind and friendly.

One year just before Christmas Mamie went there to buy stamps and the lines were particularly long. Someone pointed out that there was no need to wait in line because there was a stamp machine in the lobby. “I know,” said Mamie, ‘but the machine won’t ask me about my arthritis.”

Kindness is a wonderful virtue that makes a difference in people’s lives. Of all people, Christians should be kind to everyone, and especially to one another.

In our study of fundamentals, from 2 Peter 1:5-7, we come to the command to add brotherly kindness to our faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self control, perseverance and godliness.

It is interesting that the Holy Spirit makes a special distinction between brotherly kindness and the last virtue, love. The word philadelphia means a “fraternal affection.”

It is used in Romans 12:10 in speaking of our relationship in the Lord where Paul admonishes us to “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

It is translated “love of the brethren” in 1Thessalonians 4:9, as a trait for which these Christians were known as they demonstrated their affection toward all the brethren in Macedonia.

The New Revised Standard translates it “mutual affection”. The paraphrased Message says, “warm friendliness.”

Regarding this virtue, commentator William Barclay writes, “We must love each other, because we are members of one family. We are not strangers to each other within the (Lord’s) Church; much less are we isolated units; we are brothers and sisters, because we have the one father, God.”

Furthermore, Barclay says, “We must give each other priority in honor. More than half the trouble that arises in churches concerns rights and privileges and prestige. Someone has not been given his or her place; someone has been neglected or unthanked.”

I have seen brotherly kindness in action in both large and small ways. Brotherly kindness is hugs, handshakes, and smiles. It is the spirit of sharing. Caring. And the feeling of felicity and filial fellowship among a band of brothers and sisters, who really support one another and are concerned for each other’s spiritual and physical welfare.

Brotherly Kindness is a virtue too often neglected among brethren today in many places. There is a tendency to value light more than love. To esteem an understanding of the mystery of faith above the expression of affection for one another. And to contend for the faith at the expense of consideration, compassion, and concern for the feelings of our brethren.

Brotherly Kindness is gentleness, goodwill, and generosity. It is tenderness, tolerance, and thoughtfulness. And it is cordiality, courtesy, and charity.

Brotherly Kindness is a…

…necessary virtue in a world that is too often cold, callous and uncaring.

….humbling virtue that eliminates and eradicates uncharitable and prideful attitudes.

…gracious virtue that is forbearing, polite, courteous, and abstains from rude, crude, and abrasive words and deeds.

…compassionate virtue weeps with those who weep, bears one another’s burdens, supports the feeble, and accepts those who are week in faith.

Love is like a tender plant that requires much attention, watering and fertilizing. It can be quickly affected by the cold air of unkindness, easily nipped by the frost of harsh words and uprooted by careless or thoughtless deeds. What the world needs now is love, sweet love. What the family of God needs now is love, brotherly love.

Henry Drummond once wrote, “The greatest thing a man can do for his Heavenly Father is to be kind to some of His other children.”

We would do well to imbibe the sentiment of the little girl who prayed, “Lord, help the bad people to be good. And help the good people to be kind.”

“Let brotherly love continue” (Heb. 13:1).

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman