![]() Kindness motivates us to speak life and encouragement to others instead of death and discouragement (Proverbs 16:24 Ephesians 4:29 1 Thessalonians 5:11). Being kind to one another is how we show love: “Love is patient, love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4).īeing kind to one another involves caring for others, bearing their burdens, and valuing them above ourselves (Romans 12:10 Galatians 6:2 Philippians 2:3). Kindness is one of the attributes of God (Titus 3:4), one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), and one of the proofs of a faithful minister of the gospel (2 Corinthians 6:6). Kindness goes beyond mere words it translates into helping and serving one another (Acts 28:2). Kindness is the tangible action that results from compassion. Compassion can be defined as “heartfelt sympathy or empathy toward those who are suffering or in need.” Kindness is the helpful spirit that sees someone else in need and is motivated to respond through good deeds. Again, these all have to do with personal relationships.Ĭompassion and kindness are closely linked. Paul mentioned several virtues that believers were to clothe themselves with or “put on”: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love. ![]() And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:12–14). Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Paul reiterated the teaching on kindness to the Colossians: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Walking in love means following the example of Jesus Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God” (Ephesians 5:1–2, NLT). Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. In the very next verses, Paul instructed the Ephesians to “imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Because Christ offered grace as the basis for our forgiveness, so too should we.īeing kind to one another is not optional for the people of God (Micah 6:8 Zechariah 7:9 1 Peter 3:8). Because God acts kindly toward us, we are to behave the same way toward others. ![]() In the original Greek, the phrase rendered “be kind to one another” literally means “keep on becoming kind toward one another.” The graciousness of God, which is also found in Jesus Christ, shows us what it means to be kind to one another. These three virtues also deal with interpersonal relationships. In place of these things, believers are to put on kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness. All these practices to be rejected center on our relationships with others. Slander means evil speaking, and the Greek word translated “malice” implies wickedness, which is at the root of all the other sins listed here. Clamor speaks of shouting and loud quarreling. Wrath and anger are combined here to refer to violent outbreaks of uncontrolled human rage. Bitterness is an inward frame of mind that refuses to forgive. ![]() The apostle Paul told the Ephesians to put away six sinful attitudes and behaviors: bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31–32, ESV). To Christians, who are called to become like Jesus Christ, the Bible teaches, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. In this day of entitlement, self-promotion, and impersonal, virtual relationships, many people have forgotten what it means to be kind to one another.
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