Author: Gary Witcher

Christian Walk: By the Spirit - Kindness

     Following "patience" in the list of the fruit of the Spirit recorded in Galatians 5:22-23, we find a quality listed in the New American Standard translation as "kindness."  Most other translations, except for the King James, use the same word.  The latter uses, "gentleness."
     Actually, the Greek word that is used here applies to something that is excellent, useful, adapted to its purpose or good of its kind.
     We find this word used in this way in Luke 5:39.
     "And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new;" Jesus says in this passage, "for he says, 'The old is good enough.'"  This last phrase uses the same word to express something that is good for its intended purpose.
     1 Corinthians 15:33 warns that "bad company corrupts good morals."  The word "good" here is the same one and implies that which is excellent or useful.
     When this word is used in reference to morality, we begin to see the sense of "kindness" or "gentleness" evident in the translation of Galatians 5:22.  When applied to people, we find the meaning of worthy, decent, honest and upright.  The noun form of the same word implies honesty, respectability, value, merit and worthiness.  In other words, the Bible is trying to tell us that a person who is fulfilling his purpose is one who is kind or gentle.  A moral, decent, honest, upright person is one who is filled with kindness and gentleness.
     First of all, this term is applied to God.
     "But love your enemies," Jesus instructs in Luke 6:35, "and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men."
     The word "kind" in this verse is the one we have been considering.  God's excellence is manifested in His kindness to those who are ungrateful and evil.  Examples of this attribute are found in Luke 15 where God is shown to be One who seeks and saves the lost.
     This word is also applied to Jesus, or at least to His "yoke" in Matthew 11:30.  When the Master says that His yoke is "easy," He is actually saying that it is kind...it is adapted to its purpose.
     "Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander," 1 Peter 2:1-3 instructs, "like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord."
     The kindness of the Lord should motivate us to seek nourishment from God's word.
     Since we are to be followers and therefore imitators of the Lord, it is no surprise that Christians are to have this same characteristic.
     "And be kind to one another," Ephesians 4:32 teaches, "tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."
     So God expects us to be kind.  Unfortunately, He also tells us through Paul in Romans 3:12 that this characteristic is not native in us.
     "All have turned aside," the passage points out, "together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one."
     When we realize that this verse literally says that there is none who does KINDNESS, we see once again the parallel between this trait and usefulness.  God says we are useless because we are not kind.  What hope do we have, then?
     We have already seen that the Lord expects us to be kind.  But, fortunately, our salvation depends more on God's kindness than on our own.
     "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience," Romans 2:4 asks, "not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"
     "Behold then the kindness and severity of God;" Romans 11:22 notes, "to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off."
     "But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared," Titus 3:4-5 states, "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
     Ephesians 2:7 tells us that God has shown the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
     Thanks to God, some of this kindness rubs off on those who are His servants.  Paul points this out in 2 Corinthians 6:6.
     "And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved," Paul admonishes in Colossians 3:12-13, "put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

     What have we seen so far in our examination of the Christian walk?  Galatians 5:16 says we should walk by the Spirit.  Verse 25 states that, if we live by the Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit.  Between these two verses we find lists of both the deeds of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.
     "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident," verses 19-21 say, "which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissentions, factions, envyings, drunkenness, carousings, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
     Obviously, anyone who is trying to follow the Christian walk will work to exclude all of these.  In their place, he will put the characteristics from the following two verses.
     "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
     1 Corinthians chapter 13 tells us that love, the first trait on the list, is superior to tongues, prophecy, wisdom, knowledge, faith, benevolence, piety and hope.  Another passage that helps us grasp the meaning of love is Romans 12:9-13:8.
     1 John 4:7 teaches us that love is from God.  Verses 8 and 16 point out that God is love.
     Things that cause joy include the presence of Jesus, the God of hope, peace and agreement, faithful brethren and God's help in following the Christian walk.  We have seen how joy accompanies salvation.  We have also seen that joy does not depend upon material possessions or having an easy time.
     Peace, at least the peace spoken about in the New Testament, goes beyond the mere lack of external conflict.  It involves peace between God and man as well as an interior peace that results from this relationship.  Only Jesus and His blood can provide this association.
     Patience is something that leads to proven character and hope; perfection and completeness; godliness, brotherly kindness and love, and ultimately a crown of life for us as well as for those who are won to Christ through our patience.
     Patience comes as the result of overcoming trials, but God is always there to help us.
     And, as we have seen today, kindness is an essential trait for a Christian.  In fact, a Christian is fulfilling his purpose only if he is practicing kindness and goodness.
     God requires these characteristics in His followers.  But He also offers strength and guidance in attaining them.  And, most of all, He offers the truth that will set us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."