What Jesus said about ... kindness,
"And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. You have heard that it is said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:40-43
Kindness is a difficult concept to explain. I guess it goes hand-in-hand with "loving" other people, besides your immediate family and friends. Loving, in the sense of caring for them. For example, we might see a homeless person or a beggar in the street and we might feel sorry for them. But we do nothing. Is that "caring" really? Is it kindness? We might know some elderly people living alone, and we might be "concerned" about their vulnerability and weakness; and we do nothing. Is that kindness?
Should kindness be measured by our actions and not our feelings? If so, then how many of us are not kind at all?
There's a big difference between being kind and being nice. Being nice is the way we are seen by others. We are popular, liked, good to be with, people look forward to meeting us because we are fun and the life and soul of the party.
But are we kind? What is kindness in our life and how do we portray that kindness towards others?
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.” Matthew 7:12
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
NOTE: This post is part of a series of articles entitled "What Jesus said about ..." If you click the label "What Jesus said" at the end of the article you'll be able to access all the articles.
ReplyDelete...conservation Christians in the US haven't read or subscribed to Matthew 7:12 or Corinthians 13:4-7!
ReplyDeleteWe need to live as a good example to others.
DeleteGod bless, Tom.
This series is so enlightening, Victor. Are we really showing kindness to others when we do nothing? I don't think so, but I do hope God will forgive us when we fail to do so. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly, Martha. There are so many kind people in the world who do nothing. They sympathise from a comfortable seat in front of the TV with popcorn and wine.
DeleteGod bless.
I love these questions and answers. It is easy to be kind to those who are kind to us - but real kindness is being kind when it hurts sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI agree Chatty Crone. For example, giving away old clothes to the poor is not kindness. All we're doing is getting rid of something we do not want. How about giving when it hurts! As you say.
DeleteGod bless you.
Sadly leadership is failing us
ReplyDeleteWhen life fails us; pray and pray some more.
DeleteGod bless Cloudia.
Hard questions ... that deserve soul-searching.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wonder if kindness doesn't mean NOT sharply responding to another (online) when their views differ greatly from our own. Deep breaths ... and prayer.
Oh dear ... I hope I have not done this to you, Mevely. If ever my comments have been unkind I am sorry. Did not mean to offend. I know that on another media platform I have been called bad names and insults. I usually don't respond or get into a debate.
DeleteGod bless always.
Oh no, not you Victor! You've been nothing but kind; insightful, too.
DeletePhew !!! What a relief. Thank you, Mevely. God bless you and your family always.
DeleteIt's sad that we have to think about being kind. It should be already ingrained in our lives but unfortunately it's not.
ReplyDeleteSo well said, Bill. Thank you so much. Yes, we have forgotten to be kind. We've become too selfish as a society. It's everyone for himself in this modern new world.
DeleteGod bless you, my friend.