Colossians 3:12 NIV, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, …clothe yourselves with compassion, KINDNESS, humility, gentleness and patience”.
Kindness is a type of behaviour marked by acts of generosity, consideration, rendering assistant or concern for others, without expecting praise or reward in return, ie the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Just like putting on your clothes on in the morning you can also put on behaviour – good or bad behaviour – there’s nothing attractive about a rude Christian – there are a lot of Christians who are putting on bad behaviours?
When you get up in the morning, you must not only clothe yourself physically but spiritually and emotionally too. You must ask yourself, ‘What sort of attitude am I going to wear today? Will I be controlling or cooperative? Positive or negative? Complimentary or critical? Selfish or serving?’ You say, ‘But when I’m kind, people take advantage of me.’ Yes, sometimes that will happen. But that’s the difference between taking the low road or the high road. Which do you want to walk on?
Unbelievers can be kind: You have to cooperate with The Holy Spirit to develop the Fruits. Walk in love; be kind, peaceful, etc. Be relentless. To be kind is an action not a feeling. Don’t be rude, demanding, etc, but adapt & adjust to present situation. Be kind, say ‘Thank You’ ‘Please’, go the extra mile, etc – whatever you do, do it to The Glory of God. Serve The Lord with gladness, help (be kind to) people. Use the Gifts that God Has given you. Stop excluding people because they don’t fit in your category.
Despite the possible risks, here are two reasons to be kind:
(1)’Because of [God’s] kindness you have been saved’ (Ephesians 2:8 TLB). Grace and kindness go together. The kind heart most resembles God.
(2)Because you want people to be kind to you and treat you right. Jesus said, ‘Do to others what you would have them do to you’ (Matthew 7:12 NIV). If you are rude, people are going to be rude to you. But if you are kind, most people will desire to respond the same way. ‘If you try to be kind and good, you will be blessed with life and goodness and honour’ (Proverbs 21:21 CEV).
And here is another reason to be kind: ‘Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel’ (Proverbs 11:17 TLB). So when you are kind to others, you are really doing yourself a favor.
Let’s read it again: ‘As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience’ (Colossians 3:12 NIV). Now go out and start living that way.
Be kind to people, treat them nice, be good to everybody, and love everybody
