8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micha 6:8
Death and starvation in Gaza. Floods in New Mexico and Texas. Continual chaos in Washington. I could go on and on. Though I’m not a “news-junkie,” I do follow the news, reading a major newspaper (online) daily. At times the bad news seems to crash over me, an unrelenting wave of ill will, intransigence, and man’s hostility toward man. At times I would gladly stay in my house, only coming out to get groceries and go to worship service. If I have the presence of Christy, good food, good books, access to the internet, and of course the comfort of our Pungkin’ our cat what else do I need? I can watch the world collapse in splendid isolation. After all, what can I do to stop the carnage? Scripture tells me.
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, Colossians 3:12
I can be kind. Contemporary culture seems to magnify and worship the brutal bully who swaggers into the room, treating all around with contempt. Much of what passes for “humor” consists primarily of salacious put-downs. We do not value kindness or compassion thinking of them as indicators of some sort of moral flabbiness. It seems as if we have taken to worshiping callousness and discarded kindness as a virtue of strength. In this area we are deluded, listening to our own selfish hearts. We’ve forgotten that kindness requires great strength. Acts of kindness require putting someone else first, something none of us like to do. Take a moment to reread the passage from Colossians. Paul lists compassion and kindness first. Then he has the boldness to list humility, meekness, and patience. Apparently, kindness is much more important than we think.
45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:45-46
Interestingly the “goats” shuffle off into eternal punishment for a lack of kindness, not a more heinous moral failing. Perhaps a lack of kindness is a heinous moral failure, which makes it a subject worthy of serious consideration. A quick scan of scripture shows that kindness is one of the virtues God wants His children to embrace and display. If this is so, why do we so easily discount kindness, considering a second-rate character trait?
I believe that we do so because every act of kindness, small or large, requires putting someone else and their needs ahead of our own. By its very nature, kindness says that the other person is more important than I am, at least at that moment. Helping my wife fold clothes requires that I stop what I’m doing. Giving to a beggar on the street takes a small amount of cash out of my pocket. Volunteering at a local foodbank again requires that I set aside my time and in this case my comfort. These are just three examples of being kind that do not require great sacrifice. Politeness requires that I put others first. Even carrying on a civil conversation includes putting others first. I often find myself plotting out my response to someone’s comment instead of listening to them, an abject failure of my kindness. These acts of self-sacrifice, large and small, make up kindness and are at the heart of God.
49 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. Ezekiel 16:49
I find this passage instructive and challenging. We think Sodom’s failure was primarily a sexual failure. Ezekiel says otherwise. He explains that they grew comfortable in their wealth and were unkind to the poor. We are much the same today. As a teacher, I found that many students considered helping the poor a waste of resources and time, reflecting the attitude of their society, a society which does not value kindness in individuals or leaders. As Christians, we need to elevate the character trait of kindness and do our best to show kindness to those around us.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
Apparently, Jesus understood that we exist in a culture that does not embrace God’s standard regarding kindness…as well as many other things. But He expects us to set an example. This well-known passage calls us to be light in a world of darkness. One of the prime ways we can shine our light is to be kind to one another and those around us. This kind of behavior sets us apart as children of light. Even the smallest act of kindness does not go unnoticed in the economy of God, even a cup of water given in His name.
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10
Paul understood that we often get tired of being nice. Our flesh cries out for its own comfort; but, as believers, we need to carry on, doing our best to die to ourselves and be kind to others. Jesus, in the penultimate act of kindness, put us first and died for us to bring us into His marvelous light. And so, we must do the same, never forgetting the desperate need for kindness in this dark and troubled world. Kindness shines.
Thought Questions:
- Why does out culture discount kindness so much?
- When was a time that someone showed you kindness and how did it make you feel?
- When was the last time you went out of your way to show someone kindness
- How would it change your community if we were to show more kindness?
- How are kindness and politeness related?
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