Do you spend more time on the outer person than on the inner person? Beauty is much more than skin deep. What is the inner quality that makes someone attractive all their life? Beware of those who love you for your outward appearance only. Genuine kindness expects nothing in return. See Proverbs 19:22. Many women are looking for kindness in a man. How many men are looking for kindness in a woman? Kindness never fades with time!

1. Kindness is an attribute of God

See Psalm 145:17. God is never unkind. He is kind in all his deeds.

2. Must be learned if you are to be Christ-like

It is a quality of the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Kindness is part of the whole salvation experience

See 1 Peter 2:3 & Romans 2:4-5. It is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. God could have wiped us out. See Luke 6:35. God is kind to ungrateful and evil men. We have to be the same way. We are to be strong – with kindness.

4. Kindness is the will of God for every one of us

See Micah 6:8 & Ephesians 4:30-32. Forgiveness is an expression of kindness. If you cannot forgive someone then you are disobeying God’s Word. See Colossians 3:12-13. We have the responsibility to show or “put on” kindness. It is to be a lifestyle. We are not attracted to someone cruel, crude and rude. See 2 Peter 1:4-9. A Christian has God’s divine nature. We are to seek after godly qualities in our lives. Kindness is a natural overflow of Christ who lives in us. God looks for kindness in a believer’s life.

5. Kindness is expressed

It is expressed in three main ways:-

• In our speech – See Proverbs 16:24. The person who is kind is in control of their physical body.
• In our activities and action – For example the Good Samaritan.
• To bring someone’s wrongdoing to their attention with a gentle spirit. See Psalm 141:5. We all have to be corrected at times. The person who corrects is to do it with kindness. If it is not done in kindness then it is not being done correctly. People do not forget acts of kindness. Kindness will look someone squarely in the eye.

6. How to acquire kindness

Is it impossible? No it is not! Here is how you can acquire kindness:-

• It is already there for the believer – when you trusted Christ as Saviour the Spirit of God came within you. One of the fruits of the Spirit is kindness.
• Lay aside those characteristics, actions and attitudes that interfere with kindness.
• Focus on the needs of other people. As long as you focus on yourself you will not be very kind.
• Ask the Lord to teach you how to be kind.
• Ask the Lord to make you sensitive to opportunities to express kindness. Look in a person’s eyes and you can often see how they are. So be observant!
• You have to practice it. You feel better about yourself when you show kindness to someone. You give away a piece of yourself. Kindness will soften you and make you a better person.

Categories: Proverbs