The Spiritual Fruit Bowl: Understanding the Fruit of the Spirit -- Part 6: Kindness

I like synonyms. They often help reveal a fuller definition of certain words. If you go to Dictionary.com, the synonyms for the word "kindness" include benevolence, humanity, generosity, charity, sympathy, compassion, and tenderness. Some people think that kindness is just being nice. And though nicety does play a role in kindness, being nice is not the same as true, biblical kindness. So what is biblical kindness?

• Biblical kindness is generosity. Being generous to the poor and to others is being kind (Psalm 37:21, Proverbs 14:21, Proverbs 19:6, Proverbs 19:17, 2 Corinthians 9:11). Being benevolent and charitable are very much like being generous. But benevolence covers more the aspect of being generous in immaterial items (actions and words), while charity is most often known as giving actual, physical items (whether it be money or clothes or food or whatever) to the less fortunate.
• Biblical kindness is also compassion. God shows us His compassion over and over again in His Word. He has compassion on His people so many times. When they deserve punishment, He shows his compassion and is often merciful to them. (Deuteronomy 32:36, 2 Kings 13:23, 2 Chronicles 36:15, Psalm 78:38, Psalm 103:13, Isaiah 54:8). We can be like God when we are compassionate to others.
• Biblical kindness is tenderness. In Ephesians 4:32, Paul writes, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Right here, we see that kindness and being tender are linked together. But what does it mean to be tenderhearted? It means having a tender heart, a heart that is not tough, a heart that is not cold as stone, a heart that is gentle and merciful, a heart that is pure and kind.
• Biblical kindness is sympathy. This sympathetic is not a "Oh, poor her/him. I feel bad for him/her," and then move on. This is genuine sympathy, being understanding, not letting the burdens of others simply pass by you, comforting others. 1 Peter 3:8 says, "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind." Sympathy is being kind, caring, and showing love to others.
• Biblical kindness is humanity. I thought this was a fitting end to this post on kindness. Humanity really sums kindness up. Humanity and kindness are one and the same. The World English Dictionary defines humanity as "kindness or mercy." 

So let's seek to be more like God in the area of kindness. Let's be kind, but let's not forget about its synonyms as well (i.e. generosity, compassion, tenderness, sympathy, and humanity). Let's pray that the Spirit would work in us and that the fruit of kindness will be ever present in our lives.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23