Thursday, November 4: Acts of Kindness

In 1995, “The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation” was established. Five years later, the movie “Pay It Forward” promoted people helping others altruistically. Each time our paths intersect with that of another person, we have the opportunity to display kindness. Certainly, most people instantly can feel the difference between true kindness and an action based on ulterior motives. In that regard, the phrase “what’s in it for me” should have nothing to do with kindness.


British author Samuel Johnson once said, “Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.” Johnson understood the deeper nuance of kindness, as it has nothing to do with affection, feeling or emotion. Instead, kindness is an action that speaks volumes. God has been teaching His children about kindness since the world began, and as the best teachers lead by example, God has demonstrated His kindness to each of us. At the same time, He expects His children to treat others with the same kindness, which includes the unbelieving world. Sadly, we even have difficulty treating our Christian friends with that kindness.


One of the greatest friendships in the Bible existed between David and Jonathan, with a relationship closer than brothers. Jonathan was the son of King Saul, who was trying to kill David. It must have been a true test of their friendship, as Jonathan found himself in the unenviable position of choosing between his best friend, a godly man, and his father, who had been God’s anointed, but was no longer walking strongly with the Lord.


11 And Jonathan said to David, “Come, let us go out into the field.” So both of them went out into the field. 12 Then Jonathan said to David: “The LORD God of Israel is witness! When I have sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, or the third day, and indeed there is good toward David, and I do not send to you and tell you, 13 may the LORD do so and much more to Jonathan. But if it pleases my father to do you evil, then I will report it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And the LORD be with you as He has been with my father. 14 And you shall not only show me the kindness of the LORD while I still live, that I may not die; 15 but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the LORD has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”
1 Samuel 20:11-15


Jonathan demonstrated great kindness to David. Even knowing that his father was making horrendously bad choices, Jonathan continued to show loyalty to his father, too, yet not by jeopardizing the friendship with David. Sadly, Jonathan died on the battlefield alongside his errant father, King Saul. David subsequently became the king, and honored his promise to Jonathan by inviting Mephibosheth to eat at the king’s table, instead of eradicating the line of King Saul. Though the kindness exhibited between David and Jonathan was real, it is certainly easier to treat friends in that manner, rather than enemies. Without God’s help, through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, that kind of kindness is improbable, if not impossible.


22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-24


While the Holy Spirit gives each believer at least one spiritual gift, all of the fruits of the Spirit will be exhibited by each believer, at least part of the time. Since God does not instantly perfect us once we become believers, utilizing the fruits of the Spirit occurs more frequently when we are walking in the Spirit.

Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ---Mark Twain

Kindness can affect even the most jaded, softening the hardest hearts. Yet, we cannot truly understand kindness until we grasp the great kindness that God showed us, by sending His Son to die in our places while we were still sinners. Walking in the freedom of what Jesus accomplished for us should remind us of the kindness He would like us to exhibit to others. Look for opportunities to share the Lord’s kindness with others in your path. Certainly, God will provide unlimited opportunities and challenge you with people you might see as undeserving of that kindness! Yet it is His calling on our lives.


3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7