KINDNESS

Clothe Yourselves With  Kindness

Kindness is displayed by taking an active interest in the welfare of others. It is shown by helpful acts and considerate words.  To be kind means to do good and not do anything harmful.  A kind person is friendly, gentle, sympathetic, and gracious. He has a generous, considerate attitude toward others.  "...as God's chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with ....kindness..." -Colossians 3:12 As Christians we need to put on this Godly quality.

True Kindness is Not a Weakness. 

 Some people may view kindness as being weak. They feel that a person must be tough, hard , and even rude at times, so others can see their strength.  The reality is: it takes real strength to be truly kind.  Since true kindness is a fruit of God's spirit, it cannot be weak.  (Gal. 5:22, 23)  True kindness never displays mistaken kindness, that is, it can never have a compromising attitude toward wrong conduct.  Mistaken kindness, is a weakness that causes one to condone wrongdoing. True kindness is not blind to evil words and deeds that violate God's standards.

Our example-Jesus Christ was never guilty of displaying mistaken kindness.  He displayed true kindness, "he felt tender affection for the people because they were skinned and knocked about like sheep without a shepherd."  Honest-hearted people felt free to approach Jesus even bringing their little children to him. Think of the kindness and compassion he displayed as "he took the children into his arms and began blessing them"  (Matthew 9:36; Mark 10:13-16)

Though Jesus was kind, he was also firm for what is right in the sight of his heavenly Father. Jesus never condoned evil; he had the God-given strength  to denounce the hypocritical religious leaders as noted at Matthew 23:13-29 --where he repeated  the pronouncement: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!"

Godly Kindness is Unselfish.

 It asks for nothing and expects nothing in return.
Jehovah  kindly, "makes his sun rise upon the wicked and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous" (Matthew 5:43-45; Acts 14:16, 17) In imitation of our heavenly Father, we not only refrain from harming the unthankful, but we do good to them, even to those who have acted as our enemies. By displaying kindness, we show Jehovah and Jesus that we desire to live under God's Kingdom, when kindness and other godly qualities will permeate all human relationships.

Jehovah and the designated King of His Kingdom, Jesus Christ, require that their subjects  be known for their kindness. "He has told you, O earthling man, what is good. And what is Jehovah asking back from you but to exercise justice and to love kindness and to be modest in walking with your God."-Micah 6:8.  The false religious leaders, burdened the people with heavy loads. In contrast, Jesus invited honest-hearted one, "Come to me, all you who are toiling...For my yoke is kindly and my load is light." -Matt 11:28-30.
All too many earthly rulers, religious or otherwise, exhaust the people with wearisome burdens of endless rules and thankless tasks. Yet, what Jesus requires of his followers fits their needs and abilities. A refreshing Kindly yoke! Are you moved to be like him in showing kindness to others?
(John 13:15)

Kindness is related to "goodness" in that it is often displayed in helpful deeds for the benefit of others.

 

Our friends

 

 Kindly invited us to share their air conditioning

 And a meal, that turned out to be a feast!