(1 Corinthians 13:4) Love is kind.

The Greek word for love in this verse is agape. Agape identifies God’s type of love, not human emotional love. 

As 1 John 4:8 tell us God is love, which is the primary overall description of God. God’s love is the umbrella term describing the qualities of God, including kindness. 

Many people in our world today lack kindness toward others, because they are self-centered and spiritually empty of the love of God. 

Many of us struggle with the idea of a transcendent, all-powerful God being kind, because we often perceive kindness as being mushy and over-sentimental. We often perceive kindness as a form of weakness. But the truth is, only the strong are kind. 

Kindness is not simply being polite and having good manners. Kindness is a heart-based attitude that expresses God’s love toward others. We don’t show kindness to others only when we think they deserve it, but because each and every person is created in the image of God. 

In this sense, kindness is showing our respect for every human. Biblical kindness demonstrates consideration, compassion, and understanding,  Our kindness identifies with other humans and their struggles.  And as humans, we need the kindness and support of others. 

The fruit of the Holy Spirit includes kindness (Galatians 5:22-23). For Christians, true kindness is not a natural impulse or effort, but it is the outworking of the indwelling Holy Spirit within our lives. 

Holy Spirit empowered kindness is a reflection of God’s love for all people. The more we mature in Christ, the more we will demonstrate kindness. We cannot demonstrate God’s love toward others without kindness. The more kindness we show to others, the more kindness we will receive.

Are you kind? 

In a day when kindness is dying among many, let’s live a life of kindness as an expression of God’s love--even to the undeserving.