THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Titus 3:4-6

“Charity … is kind …”

WHAT IS LOVE? (II)

The next description of love is that of kindness (chresteuetai). This word refers to “active goodwill.” It is not just an inward disposition of charity, but one that is manifested. “It not only desires others’ welfare, but works for it” (MacArthur). Rev Timothy Tow succinctly restated this as an injunction: “Do something good for Jesus every day.”

For the Corinthian Christians, the call to kindness was to lead them to confess their sin of self-centredness. At the time of writing, they were selfish and full of spite for one another. Kindness would demand that they set this spirit aside and start to be more considerate of one another. They were to render help to those who were in need.

Once again, the best example of kindness is our Lord Jesus Christ. Did not Christ out of His kindness come down to this world to die for our sins? “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Titus 3:4-6).

Kindness need not be manifested in some grandiose deed. Sometimes a little word or action can go a long way to encourage sagging spirits. Paul Lee Tan related the story of the blind hymn writer Fanny Crosby who came across a motherless boy at McAuley Mission. When she was alerted to his state, she laid her arms around the child and kissed him. That meeting inspired her to write the hymn, “Rescue the Perishing.” Years later, Mr Sankey related the incident to the crowd. A man sprung from the crowd and claimed to be the man who was kissed by Fanny that day. The act of kindness left such an impression on him that he became a Christian and a godly businessman.

THOUGHT: “Do something good for Jesus every day.” (Timothy Tow)
PRAYER: Father, help me to be kind to others.