“Kindness” is pretty popular today. I saw it on the sidewalk when we had “Chalk the Walk” in Chamberlain a few weeks ago. I’ve seen it on t-shirts and memes on Facebook. But what is it, really? What does that mean, “Be kind?” How do I do that?
Kindness in the Old Testament is compassion and faithfulness to others. Ruth and Boaz’s marriage was one of kindness (Ruth 2:20). We show kindness to relatives, neighbors, and strangers (Gen 19:1–3). Kindness looks like deeds and actions, as when Joseph asked the king’s butler to remember the kindness that he had shown him (Gen 40:14). The Lord tells us that kindness is related to justice and humility in Micah 6:8, and this is good. We are to do unto others as we would want them to do unto us, and who doesn’t want to be treated kindly?
In the New Testament, we see other words that can be used for kindness: gentleness, goodness, uprightness, generosity, and graciousness. Kindness is a characteristic of true love (1 Cor. 13:4). It is an attribute of God, His goodness and loving kindness to save us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy (Titus 3:4-5). While we were yet sinners, He loved us and forgave us, through Christ, out of kindness. Jesus on the cross is the greatest picture of kindness, to be willing to die in the place of sinners. And when He returns and judges, He will reward those who have shown kindness to others (Matt. 25:34–36). We who follow God should look and act like Him in kindness.
So what does it look like to “be kind?” There was a man traveling, about 24 miles to the next town. He was attacked by robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. A priest walked by, then a lawyer, but they didn’t stop to help; they were too busy and “better than that.” An enemy came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, applying ointment and first aid. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he paid for his room and board (Luke 10:29-37). What would you have done? This is kindness.