Recently I had the experience of passing out in a public place. One minute I was leaning on some shopping carts and the next thing I knew I was lying on the floor. When I opened my eyes and looked up I saw the faces of two strangers, at least one of whom was asking me if I was okay. I do not even remember falling (doctors later determined that the cause of my fall was an irregular heartbeat-which is now being treated).
There were a number of people who came to my aid during this time, the two people I have already mentioned, someone who folded up a jacket and put it under my head in order to prop it up, and a store manager.
But there was one other person who assisted me, and for some reason his help made an impression on me. As I was trying to push myself up off the floor a customer was walking by. He saw me, extended his hand to me, and helped lift me to my feet. I did not know him and am pretty sure he did not know me. His appearance in my life was brief. He showed up, lifted me up, and went on his way. He did not seek any recognition or reward, he saw a need and he helped meet it. In a word, he was kind. Some would say that this man expressed a random act of kindness.
Kindness is part of the nature of God. God is kind. The apostle Paul wrote a number of times about this aspect of God’s nature. He told us that the Lord is both kind and stern (Rom. 11:22), in fact, he mentioned God’s kindness three times in this one verse. The apostle told us that God showed His kindness to us in the salvation that was provided for us in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:7; Titus 3:4). He also told us that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4); God’s kindness is what attracts us to Him.
It is also clear from Scripture that kindness, which is part of God’s nature, is not something that only God should be expressing. Christians, as the Lord’s people, are also to express kindness. Paul spoke of kindness being present in his own life and ministry as well as that of his coworkers (2 Cor. 6:6).
That being said, it should be noted that kindness is not a quality only for church leaders, such as apostles. In Colossians 3:12, Paul instructs all of the believers in the church in Colossae, and by extension us, to exhibit kindness. Indeed, what he writes in this verse is an order. Since he is writing under divine inspiration he is expressing the mind and will of God about this. Last we think that this is a difficult, or impossible, order to live up to Paul tells us in Galatians 5:22 that kindness is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will produce kindness in the lives of believers who have surrendered themselves to His control. We have divine assistance, we are not left to produce it on our own.
As Christians we ought to excel in the practice of kindness. This is true for a couple of different reasons. First, we have been commanded by God to exhibit kindness. Second, because we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to do so. The demonstration of this aspect of the nature of God could have a profound impact on the world in which we live. As the story above indicates kindness is not altogether missing from our world, but it is in short supply in many places. May we truly demonstrate the character of our God. As we show His kindness to the world many may be led to repentance and enter His Kingdom.
John P. Lathrop – United States
John P. Lathrop is a graduate of Western Connecticut State University, Zion Bible Institute, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary’s Center for Urban Ministerial Education (CUME). He is an ordained minister with the International Fellowship of Christian Assemblies and has twenty years of pastoral experience.
