Kindness

by Micky Galloway

Kindness is a command. It is also the fifth virtue in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It comes to us from the Greek word “chrestotes” which is sometimes translated “gentleness.” Plummer says of “chrestotes” in his comments on II Corinthians 6:6 that this quality is “the sympathetic kindliness or sweetness of temper which puts others at their ease, and shrinks from giving pain.” This kindness demands that one consider the feelings of another and seek to enhance his joy rather than making him unhappy. It should be our desire to help instead of hurt (cf. I Peter 3:8; Colossians 3:12-13; II Corinthians 6:6; Romans 2:4; 11:22). It is interesting to note that even among heathen philosophers it is believed that in kindness man becomes kin to God.

In this study let us note a few passages where this virtue is attributed to God and let us note some examples of God’s kindness toward man. Then let us note how the kindness of God is to be emulated in our own lives toward others.

Again and again the Septuagint version of the Old Testament uses “chrestotes” to describe the kindness of God. The Psalmist sings, “Give thanks to God for he is kind, for his steadfast love lasts forever” (Psalms 106:1; 107:1; 136:1). William Barclay comments,

“What moves the heart of the Psalmist is not the moral goodness of God, but the sheer kindness of God. His only claim to God’s gifts, and his only hope of forgiveness lie in the fact that God is kind; his only prayer is that God should hear him because God is kind, and that God should be merciful to him because God is kind (Ps. 69:16; 86:3; 100:5; 109:21). ‘Remember me,’ he prays, ‘according to thy steadfast love, for thy kindness’ sake, O Lord’(Ps. 25:7)” (Flesh and Spirit, page 98).

God’s kindness is expressed in many ways. For example, the bounty of nature is a expression of the kindness of God. The Psalmist said, “The Lord will give kindness and our land shall yield her fruit” (Psalms 85:12; cf. Psalms 64:11). God’s kindness is seen in the revelation of his will to men. “Thou art kind, therefore in thy kindness teach me thy ordinances” (Psalms 119:65-68). The New Testament also speaks of the kindness and forbearance of God, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4). One must be reminded that the kindness of God should never be regarded as providing an opportunity to sin. Hand in hand with God’s kindness is the severity of God (Romans 11:22). The kindness of God is that which provides the means of forgiveness for man. Thus, the supreme illustration of God’s kindness is His willingness to give His son, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:7; 4:32).

It should therefore, come as no surprise that God demands kindness of us. For it is kindness that makes a man a good man. To neglect this is to bring the condemnation of God. We must “put on... kindness” (Colossians 3:12) as a part of the Christian’s life. This means “forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye” (Colossians 3:13). Paul wrote, “Be ye kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). He also wrote, “Love suffereth long and is kind” (I Corinthians 13:4). The wisdom writer affirmed, “That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness” (Proverbs 19:22). He also described the worthy woman, “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue” (Proverbs 31:26). The attitude that motivates kindness toward others is the same attitude that motivated God’s kindness to us. Paul wrote, “Doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others”(Philippians 2:3-4). Wouldn’t a little kindness cure a lot of ills?

Kindness is indeed a lovely thing. It doesn’t cost us anything in money, but it does cost something of ourselves. The loveliness of kindness means that we treat others in the way that God has treated us.