Quick, without looking in a dictionary, how would you define the word kindness? Think about it for a moment. I would even suggest that you write down your definition before you go any further into this post. Reflect on why you chose the words you did, and what they say about what you understand this word to mean.
A quick search of the ESV Bible reveals that the word kindness appears 29 times in the Scriptures. One in particular stood out to me. It's from Psalm 141:5. It talks about being struck by a righteous man, and that is a kindness. Now, in our day and age, we might wonder at that. It hardly seems to be kindness to be struck by anyone, even a righteous man. And that's where, when we dig in, we start to see the depth of this word kindness.
Anytime someone turns you from a dangerous path to one of safety and wisdom, you can say that the person struck you in kindness. They took the risk of confronting you about the path you were headed down, and guided you toward a path that would be far better for you. In truth, that's always difficult for us humans to hear. We don't like to hear that we're going the wrong way. We resist is, sometimes even to the point where we know we're wrong, but we just don't want to admit it. And yet, it is kindness that risks such a confrontation to turn us to the right path.
In Ephesians 2:7, Paul writes about God's kindness toward us. Only, look at the words that Paul uses to surround that word, kindness. In the coming ages, God might show to us the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. God's kindness is to show us the path that leads to the immeasurable riches that are ours in Jesus. God's kindness is to reveal to us the way to have access to His immeasurable riches. God's kindness is to show us what He has done for us, pointing us to Jesus, the cross, the resurrection, and His ruling and having all authority.
God's kindness calls for our humility. God wants to do great things for us, and to give us far greater gifts than what we could ever have in this world. And that's why we started this post out by defining kindness. God shows us, not that he is nice, but that he richly cares for us. Kindness goes beyond simply being nice to someone, but sinks into the depths of a deep, abiding care for them. You want to see the best for them. You don't want to see harm and danger brought to them. You want to show them everything that they could have. And that's the kindness of our God toward us.
A quick search of the ESV Bible reveals that the word kindness appears 29 times in the Scriptures. One in particular stood out to me. It's from Psalm 141:5. It talks about being struck by a righteous man, and that is a kindness. Now, in our day and age, we might wonder at that. It hardly seems to be kindness to be struck by anyone, even a righteous man. And that's where, when we dig in, we start to see the depth of this word kindness.
Anytime someone turns you from a dangerous path to one of safety and wisdom, you can say that the person struck you in kindness. They took the risk of confronting you about the path you were headed down, and guided you toward a path that would be far better for you. In truth, that's always difficult for us humans to hear. We don't like to hear that we're going the wrong way. We resist is, sometimes even to the point where we know we're wrong, but we just don't want to admit it. And yet, it is kindness that risks such a confrontation to turn us to the right path.
In Ephesians 2:7, Paul writes about God's kindness toward us. Only, look at the words that Paul uses to surround that word, kindness. In the coming ages, God might show to us the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. God's kindness is to show us the path that leads to the immeasurable riches that are ours in Jesus. God's kindness is to reveal to us the way to have access to His immeasurable riches. God's kindness is to show us what He has done for us, pointing us to Jesus, the cross, the resurrection, and His ruling and having all authority.
God's kindness calls for our humility. God wants to do great things for us, and to give us far greater gifts than what we could ever have in this world. And that's why we started this post out by defining kindness. God shows us, not that he is nice, but that he richly cares for us. Kindness goes beyond simply being nice to someone, but sinks into the depths of a deep, abiding care for them. You want to see the best for them. You don't want to see harm and danger brought to them. You want to show them everything that they could have. And that's the kindness of our God toward us.
I agree. It is an act of kindness to speak with someone about Jesus, and it is unkind to refuse to point someone to their need of salvation. For the secular humanist, it is an act of kindness to withhold truth and never judge behavior.
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