How has the fruit of kindness from another person made a difference in your life? My mother had an expression “you get a lot further with honey than vinegar.” As I have gone through life, I have found that to be absolutely true.
I remember a teacher I had in school and his greatest personal characteristic was kindness. He led by example and, no matter the situation, his kindness always would show through. The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 4:32Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. [1] Have you ever asked the Lord to help you be a kinder person?
David was Kind to Saul
King Saul was trying to kill David because he saw him as competition. Saul was jealous of how the Lord was blessing David.
1 Samuel 24:16 When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. 17 And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. 18 Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the Lord put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. 19 Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the Lord reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.[2]
Although Saul recognized David’s kindness he would not turn from his evil ways and turn back to the Lord.
Jesus is Kind to Us
Have you taken time lately to ponder the kindness of Jesus? He willingly sacrificed Himself to pay the price for our sin. Where would you or I be today without the kindness of God? Paul writes in Colossians 3:12, “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.[3]
Did you know that kindness has side effects? Dr. David Hamilton describes five.
The fruit of kindness:
- Makes us happier.
- Good for the heart as acts of kindness are many times accompanied by emotional warmth.
- Slows aging.
- Improves relationships.
- Is contagious.
But I especially like the idea that showing kindness slows down the aging process! I know some very kind folk that are advanced in years, but I had never thought the two connected![4]
Who can you be kind to as you go about your day?
To hear more about the fruit of kindness, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/faith-makes-a-difference-david
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[4] https://devotionsbyjan.com/2018/01/03/a-little-kindness/