By Warren David Horak

Love Is Kind

Today as we focus on the second facet of love, kindness, we discover that it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance.

When we show forth His kindness it leads others to Jesus.

Every act of kindness that we show, is an eternal seed sown that will produce an eternal harvest.

The Lord uses His kindness in our lives as the bait to attract the great harvest of souls that He died for.

Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

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Introduction

Welcome to our continuing series on the 16 facets of love.

Today, we're exploring the second facet: kindness.

This powerful aspect of love is often overlooked, yet it's central to God's character and His expectations for us as His children.

As we delve into this topic, we'll discover how kindness is not just a nice gesture, but a transformative force that can lead people to repentance and demonstrate our sonship in Christ.

The Kindness of God:

The kindness of God is what leads us to repentance. Romans 2:4 states:

"Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"

This goodness, or kindness, is a powerful tool God uses to draw people to Himself.

Every act of kindness we sow is an eternal seed that will produce an eternal harvest. When we show kindness, we're demonstrating love, as kindness is one of the 16 facets of love.

The Root of Kindness

Interestingly, the root word for kindness in Greek means "to receive a loan" or "to borrow."

This implies that when we show kindness, we're giving something that doesn't need to be repaid.

God's kindness towards us is like a loan we never have to repay - it's pure grace.

Jesus' Teachings on Kindness:

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us practical examples of kindness. In Luke 6:35, He says:

"But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil."

This teaching challenges our natural inclinations. Jesus calls us to show kindness even to our enemies, expecting nothing in return. This is the kind of kindness that defines us as sons of God.

Practical Examples of Kindness:

Jesus continues in Matthew 5:38-42:

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

But I tell you not to resist an evil person.

But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.

And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away."

These examples of kindness are radical and counter-cultural. They challenge us to go beyond our comfort zones and show love even in difficult situations.

The Power of Kindness:

Kindness has the power to overcome evil. Romans 12:20-21 says:

"Therefore 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.'

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

By showing kindness to our enemies, we're not just following a command - we're participating in spiritual warfare.

This kind of kindness is more powerful than we often realize.

Patience: The Path to Perfection

Kindness as a Fruit of the Spirit:

Galatians 5:22-23 lists kindness as one of the fruits of the Spirit:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."

When we walk in kindness, we're walking in the Spirit. This is a key aspect of our spiritual growth and maturity.

The Eternal Implications of Kindness:

God's kindness towards us has eternal implications. Ephesians 2:7 tells us:

"That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

God's kindness towards us in Christ is something He plans to demonstrate for all eternity.

This should inspire us to show the same kind of enduring kindness to others.

Kindness and Spiritual Growth:

In 2 Peter 1:5-9, we see how kindness fits into our spiritual growth:

"But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins."

Kindness is a crucial step in our spiritual development.

Without it, we risk becoming spiritually blind and unfruitful.

Kindness and Forgiveness:

One of the greatest acts of kindness we can show is forgiveness. Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:23-24:

"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."

Forgiveness is a gift we give to others, just as God has forgiven us. It's an act of kindness that frees both the forgiver and the forgiven.

The Joy of Kindness:

We should approach kindness and forgiveness with joy, not as a burden. James 1:2-4 encourages us:

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

When we face trials that test our ability to be kind and forgive, we should rejoice, knowing that these trials are producing patience and perfecting our faith.

Conclusion

As we've explored this facet of love - kindness - we've seen how central it is to God's character and His expectations for us.

Kindness is not just a nice gesture, but a powerful force that can lead people to repentance, demonstrate our sonship in Christ, and overcome evil with good. It's one of the 16 facets of love that we're called to cultivate in our lives.

Let's challenge ourselves this week to focus on kindness. Look for opportunities to show kindness, especially to those who may not deserve it.

Remember, it's the kindness of God that leads to repentance, and as we show kindness to others, we're participating in God's redemptive work in the world.

May we grow in this facet of love, becoming more like our Father who is kind to the unthankful and evil. As we do, we'll find ourselves maturing in our faith, becoming more fruitful, and experiencing the joy that comes from walking in God's ways.

Let's embrace the challenges that come with showing kindness, knowing that they're opportunities for our faith to grow and for God's love to be demonstrated through us.

Remember, every act of kindness is an eternal seed sown. As we cultivate this facet of love in our lives, we're not just impacting the here and now, but we're sowing into eternity.

May we be known as people who consistently demonstrate the kindness of God, reflecting His character and drawing others to Him through our actions.

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