KINDNESS

Kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit from the second cluster. With patience and goodness, these fruits especially speak to our relationships with other people.

What it means

Kreestotees is the Greek word translated as kindness. Kreestotees (sometimes spelled chrestotes) means upright and righteous. It is kindness of the heart or action. It is goodness not just as a quality, but in action. A pleasing act or behavior is required.

Sometimes it is translated easy, as in mild, pleasant, or virtuous. For instance, in Matthew 11:30, Jesus says “my yoke is kreestos easy and my burden is light.” In Luke 5:39, Jesus uses the analogy “And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is kreestos better.'”

The opposite of kreestotees kindness is sternness or severity. Romans 11:22 shows the contrast. Paul says, “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to to you, provided that you continue in his kindness.”

Other antonyms include: hard, harsh, sharp, bitter, cruel and bad.

Why its important

The world is a hard and cruel place without the help of God. Satan is prowling around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Paul says, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19,20). Engaging in acts of the sinful nature are not consistent with performing acts of kindness.

Kindness flies in the face of my natural tendencies. My human nature is selfish. Kindness is an unselfish act.

Because acts of kindness are unselfish, they attract the attention of the people who see them. Attracting the attention of people so that they can see my good works and glorify my Father in heaven is one of the commands Jesus Christ left me with. My acts of kindness give people an opportunity to glorify God.

How to do it

I observed that different cultures view kindness differently. I moved from the southern U.S. to the Midwest. Behavior considered normal in the South is considered kindness in the Midwest. Southern hospitality is a reality. On the flip side, some behavior considered normal in New England is considered harsh or sharp in other parts of the U.S..

Behavior considered normal in some European countries is considered hard or bitter in the United States. And some behavior considered normal in oriental cultures would be considered overly kind in occidental cultures.

Kindness can also be influenced by personality. Some people have a very sensitive nature. Almost every act they perform would be considered kind. Other people have a more aggressive nature. No matter what they try to do, they are rarely considered kind. Except by people with a similar type of personality.

But some acts of kindness transcend cultures and personalities.

Acts of kindness are usually performed for individuals less fortunate than I am. They might be chronically less fortunate; like the poor, hungry and homeless. They might be momentarily less fortunate, like someone having a bad day or someone who forgot their keys.

Anyone could be less fortunate than me on any given day. The chronically less fortunate can be easy to spot. But for most people, I probably won't be able to tell just by looking at them. So I need to practice being kind to everyone all the time.

Here are some ways that seem to work for me:

1. Smile and say “Hello.” Many people feel alone in the world. When someone acknowledges their existence, they appreciate it. So I try to smile and say hello to as many people as I can each day. In Sam Walton's autobiography, "Sam Walton: Made In America,” one of Sam's college friends said that Sam walked across campus trying to be the first one to say “hello” to everyone he met.

2. Compliment someone. I find that most people are under spiritual attack on a regular basis. Satan is busy telling them how worthless they are. How they aren't good at anything. How they are a failure. If I can help them see the truth by complimenting them, I consider that a kindness.

3. Be observant. Some acts of kindness can only be performed at the moment of need. The person in front of you in the checkout line is a dollar short, so you give them a dollar. The elderly couple have a flat tire along the side of the road, so you stop to help them change the tire. Or at the very least, you stop and offer to call help for them.

A few years ago, there was popular bumper sticker that said, “Perform random acts of kindness.” It was a call to counter the random acts of violence we hear about in the news.

Acts of kindness should be performed for people who have no way of repaying us for our kindness. As well as for the people we live and interact with every day.

For many people, a kind word is all they need to see the love of God through my life.

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