Then they can urge the younger women… to be … kind …
Summary: Paul’s words challenge us to ask the question: Am I kind?
Are you kind?
Kindness is an unusual commodity. It means to do “good.” It is being agreeable, pleasant, and easy to be around. It is doing what is right and good for the people you are with.
Being kind is the opposite of … what? Being evil?
Isn’t kindness just another word for showing love?
It is easy to be hurtful with words. Hurt, imagined or real, boils over into pain, and pain spills into hurtful words. Frustration and loneliness can turn to bitterness. Bitter thoughts lead to bitter words.
The antidote to all this is kindness. Are you being kind to your neighbor? What about your friends? Your children? And most importantly, are you being kind to your spouse?
It is the people we are closest to who generally get the brunt of our hurtful words. They are around more often than anyone else. Because they are always around, they sometimes get taken for granted. Familiarity can be an invitation for abuse.
Pancakes by themselves are rather bland. Add butter, sugar, and syrup and suddenly, what was bland becomes something special.
Kindness is like that. Taking what is common, even bland, and making it special.
Are you kind? Can you be?
Application: Become the maple syrup to the pancakes in your life. Sweeten things up.
Food for Thought: How does kindness change the world?
One way is that is piles heaping coals on ones head,..at least that’s what I read in the Bible,..
Kindness can be taken for granted,..misunderstood,..or even considered a crime these days. Look what happened to Jesus,..they had Him crucified for doing good and kind things. That changed the world,..
One way I share kindness in business is by handing out free promotional items such as pens and coffee mugs,..I started sending out calendars to every customer for Christmas,..my employees have good boots to wear on the fence line as well as rain gear because of my kindness,..gloves that protect their hands and tools that get the job done. Sharing with others does takes a unique sort of kindness,..then it also takes the other to recieve the kindness being given,..I once learned,..never rob a man of his blessing,..what I mean by that is if a customer wants to give me a 20 dollar bonus and I refuse it,..then that is robbing him of his blessing,..he wants to bless me with his token of appreciation and by not recieving or accepting is like robbing him of his blessing,..so kindness does have to work both ways,..because if I didn’t accept the blessing,..the customer would have different thoughts and then maybe not want to give out another blessing because he was robbed the first time,..what will happen the next time,..get robbed again? So the kindness he once wanted to share becomes a burden and doesn’t want to be kind so much anymore,..
That just came to mind,..
I am doing by best to be kind to others,..because I know how I would like to be treated,..thanks for the syrup,..
John,
I appreciate your example and the kindness you show others. I especially appreciate the lesson you shared about not robbing someone of their blessing. Thank you!
Kindness is in the fruit of the Spirit for a reason. It is significantly underrated. The world seems to have a short supply. Through the Spirit, God’s children should be equipped with lots of this precious product.
Thank you, Rich!
It seems like if we follow the second Great Commandment, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ (Matthew 22: 37-40), we should be well on our way to being kind to others. 🙂
How does kindness change the world?
Jesus Christ is Gods act of kindness toward all mankind. He placed himself in the womb of a human being, walked the earth for 33 years cloked in the flesh of a man, and gave Himself as a sacrifice, to pay the price for all sins of humanity, for all time. His act of kindness toward each believer is our example and the power to do what He asks of us.
John 3:16, Ephesians 2:7, Ephesians 4:32,Titus 3:4,
Kindness is the outward expression of an inner truth. The fruit of Gods Spirit in each believer. God has shown us the way, given each of us the power and clearly tells us we are to remain in the world, but not of this world as we minister to others by allowing Him to show acts of kindness toward all those He brings into our sphere of influence. He has prayed to the Father for our protection and is with us always, as we walk with God.
John 17:14-18, Luke 6:35, Galatians 5:22, 2 Corinthians 6:6
Our reward is the GREAT HONOR of being used by God as He works through us. To be in a close relationship with God, our Heavenly Father, and present as a witness to His work toward others. There is no greater experience on this earth.
Galatians 2:20,“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Gods act of kindness has changed this world!
Ron,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts today. I added links for all of the verses. Thank you for the wonderful references.
The honor of being used by God it an important concept. We need to remember that God uses each of us differently.