Kindness is Fundamental

Theresa Gale was locking up the church building recently after a long day of volunteering when a young woman approached her, asking for water and bus fare. It was late and Gale was alone. But she gave the woman a bottle of water and $15 and offered her a ride to the bus stop.

In the car, the woman asked about the church, and Gale explained that the members believe that they have a duty to help those in need. “Well, you are God to me today,” Gale says the woman responded. “I was touched,” says Gaile said. “It was as if I, too, had received a blessing.”
(Source: Elizabeth Bernstein, “How Kindness Echoes Around Our Worlds,” The Wall Street Journal)

For the past few weeks, we’ve been considering these fundamental Christian qualities called “The Fruit of the Spirit” from Galatians 5:22-23)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

When we think of fundamentals of faith, our minds may conjure up more doctrinal issues such as Bible authority, church government, scriptural worship, the Deity of Jesus, and the relationship of grace, mercy, faith and works to our salvation.

However, the fruit born from walking in the Spirit are just as important. Just as basic. Just as fundamental. They speak to our character. Our conduct. Our Christ-likeness. The fruit of Spirit is authenticated in kindness.

Dr. Thayer says the word rendered “kindness” means fit for use. Virtuous. Good. Pleasant as opposed to harsh and bitter.

Vincent says it is a “kindness which is useful or serviceable.”

Plummer writes that this quality is “the sympathetic kindliness of sweetness of temper which puts others at ease and shrinks from giving pain.”

In addition to various commands to be kind, we’re reminded that God expressed His kindness through Jesus Christ. “That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:7)

Christ is the epitome of Divine kindness. God demonstrated what it means to be kind not only by sending Jesus to save us when we were in our sins, but to show how to be kind in His interactions others. Sure, there were occasions where Jesus sternly rebuked sin, pointed our error, and exposed religious hypocrisy. But the tone and tenor of His life was most often expressed in a kindly spirit.

Let’s bullet a few examples for your consideration. Jesus was kind in dealing with…

…the Samaritan woman at the well, who would have been ostracized by most Jews (Jn. 4:1-26).

…the woman caught in the very act of adultery whom the religious leaders wanted to be stoned to death (Jn. 8:1-11).

…Zacchaeus, the tax-collector, who was despised by the Jews (Lk. 19:1-10).

…the sinful woman who came into Simeon the Pharisee’s house and anointed the feet of Jesus (Lk. 7:36-50).

…the Syro-Phoenician woman who sought healing for her demon-possessed daughter (Mk. 7:24-30).

…the rich, young ruler, who sorrowfully declined to follow Jesus (Matt. 19:16-22).

…the disciplines when they were slow to understand and even debating who would be the greatest in the Kingdom (Lk. 22:24-30; Jn. 13:1-17)

…Publicans and sinners with whom Jesus mingled and ate together, but were viewed with contempt by the Pharisees.

…the thief on the cross who sought redemption and a place in the Kingdom.

…the two men on the Emmaus road who were “slow of heart to believe”

These and so many other examples exemplify Jesus’ kindness, compassion, patience, and pleasant disposition in ministering to those who needed Him the most. His attitude should be ours (Phil. 2:5). We ought to do as He did (Jn. 13:14-15). And His example should motivate us to be more like Him (1 Pet.. 2:18-25)

Sadly, we may too often find ourselves being unkind, inconsiderate, insensitive, and maybe even harsh to the very people who just need a kind word, a warm smile, or thoughtful gesture to brighten their day.

Christ followers would do well to imbibe the advice of James Fadiman and Robert Frager. “Be kind to people whether they deserve your kindness or not. If your kindness reaches the deserving, good for you; if your kindness reaches the undeserving, take joy in your compassion.”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman