At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7
Starter Question
What is surprising about God’s kindness?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22–23
At the start of 2020, Australia is still reeling from devastating bush fires that have raged in parts of the eastern states since last September. Over 18 million hectares of land have been burned, more than 6000 buildings including homes destroyed, and estimates say that one billion native animals and livestock have been lost. In addition to communities ravaged by fires, 30 Australians have lost their lives including three volunteer fire fighters. In the midst of this catastrophic summer, there have been regular stories of the kindness of strangers. People rescuing and caring for native animals; neighbours holding and embracing one another in silent, heartfelt sympathy and support; meals, clothes, toys, and even furniture donated to emergency evacuation centres to assist those who have lost everything. And for weeks on end, millions and millions of dollars have been donated to major charities in support of affected communities.
So it may come as a surprise to see the Apostle Paul refer to kindness as a fruit of the Spirit — something requiring the supernatural work of the indwelling Holy Spirit to bring it about in the follower of Jesus.
The kindness of God
The Bible reveals that God is kind. His kindness includes the creation of the world and the gift of life (Job 10:12), but is particularly associated with his mighty and gracious acts of covenant love towards his people: ‘I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses’ (Isaiah 63:7).
God’s kindness towards Israel is not only a matter of acting powerfully to rescue them, but also his steadfast faithfulness towards them despite their faithlessness. Ultimately, God expresses his saving grace towards an undeserving world in the gift of his Son: ‘..the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus’ (Ephesians 2:7). The biblical frame of kindness then, is not merely the acts of compassion that might be observed between sympathetic countrymen in a time of desperate need, but a settled disposition and intention to bless those who neither deserve nor would expect such treatment. So, Jesus teaches his followers to ‘love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back… because (God) is kind to the ungrateful and wicked’ (Luke 6:35).
As Paul writes to the church in Galatia, the harmony and fruitfulness of the fellowship of God’s people is at risk because some are ‘biting and devouring’ each other having become ‘conceited, provoking and envying each other’ (Galatians 5:16, 25). In Colossians, the unity of the fellowship where ‘Christ is all and Christ is in all’ is the basis for Paul’s exhortation to the believers to clothe themselves with kindness (Colossians 3:12), and in Ephesians he urges that Christians ‘be kind …to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ, God forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32).
The work of the Spirit
Kindness is not a private virtue. It is an essential aspect of love (1 Corinthians 13:4) and so, kindness is expressed in real relationships that can sometimes be frustrating, challenging and demanding. When others let us down or treat us poorly how do we respond? A harsh or dismissive remark can seem to come quickly and without a second thought. Paul encourages believers that the Spirit of God himself is at work in us to produce the fruit that pleases God and lasts to eternity. At the same time, he encourages Christians to bear the family likeness and respond to others, with the same compassion, kindness, and forgiveness that we have experienced from the Lord who ‘loved us and gave himself for us’ (Galatians 2:20). Jesus is not only an example of kindness but, united to him through faith, we receive the Spirit who powerfully works in us (Galatians 3:2, 5).
Before I became a Christian, I had two friends who were kind to me in ways that I did not even recognise at the time. One prayed for my conversion, and asked his friends to do the same; and another asked if I would be interested in reading John’s Gospel. How grateful I am for their kindness in caring enough to offer to someone who neither desired not deserved it, ‘the immeasurable riches of God’s grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Jesus Christ’!
Questions for Reflection
1. Take two minutes to write a list of the ways in which you have experienced the kindness of God. Give thanks for them.
2. Why does it take the power of the Holy Spirit to produce kindness in us?
3. Ask God to show you how to be kind in some difficult situation you are facing.
Prayer
Loving heavenly Father,
in your kindness you have made known the riches of your grace in Jesus;
teach us to love our enemies and forgive as we have been forgiven,
that we may be clothed with Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
one God, forever and ever. Amen.