Kindness

“What does the Lord require of you…to love kindness.” Mic 6:8 NAS

Every day we miss opportunities to be kind in order to save a few seconds. One author writes, “When I treat people as obstacles, or a means to getting things done, I become a smaller man. With each brusque comment…dismissive glance…curt reply I lose a little more of myself…my relationship with God suffers.” Paul says, “The fruit of the Spirit is…kindness” (Gal 5:22 NKJV), and you can’t love God without being kind to those He loves. Consider Ruth and Naomi. When circumstances left them widowed, Ruth told her aging mother-in-law, “Don’t ask me to leave you…May the Lord punish me…if I allow anything but death to separate us!” (Ru 1:16-17 NLT). Consider Jonathan and David. When Saul tried to kill David, Jonathan stuck by him and “loved him as himself” (1Sa 18:3 NIV) although it meant sacrificing his chance to become king. Consider David and Mephibosheth. In an era when newly-appointed monarchs routinely banished those associated with former dynasties, David sought out Jonathan’s son and said, “I will…show kindness to you for the sake of your father…and…restore to you…the land of your grandfather…you shall eat at my table regularly” (2Sa 9:7 NAS). Consider the Shunammite woman who noticed Elisha was always passing her house, so she built a little room so he could “turn in” when he was tired (2Ki 4:9-10 NAS). You never regret kindness. Og Mandino says, “Treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend all the care, kindness and understanding you can, with no thought of reward, and your life will never be the same.”

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