True Kindness

What is true kindness? Is it being nice to someone or doing something for someone? True kindness is the act of extending God’s love within you to others. The whole root of the fruit of kindness is love. There are many aspects to kindness and what it is and isn’t. Let’s start with David.
“And you have shown this day how you have dealt with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.” – 1 Samuel 24:18-19.
The context behind these two verses is that Saul had been hunting David due to Saul’s insecurity. Now, David was given the opportunity to kill Saul, who was his enemy at the time. However, David just cut off a corner of his robe. Troubled, David ran after Saul and showed that he could have killed Saul but chose not to because Saul was God’s anointed at the time. David highly honored whoever God anoints. David showed kindness to Saul by sparing his life. Do you think it is easy to run up to the one who hunts you and show kindness to them? Surely not. Not only that, but David made an oath not to kill any of Saul’s descendants.
“Therefore swear now to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house. So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.” – 1 Samuel 24:21-22.
Much later, past Saul’s death, David remembers this oath he made to Saul.
“Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” – 2 Samuel 9:1.
David was looking for someone of the house of Saul to show kindness to because of the oath he made to Saul and because of the covenant he made with Jonathan, who is Saul’s son. David wanted to show kindness mainly because he loved Jonathan greatly. True kindness doesn’t have to be seen. In fact, it means more when it isn’t, because then you know it isn’t out for its own glory. Even when someone isn’t present or aware of our actions, we should desire to show kindness to them. Even if that person never knows what kind act we did, that is true kindness because true kindness doesn’t seek gratitude or benefits. Love is selfless, and kindness should be selfless as well since kindness is that extending act of love. That is generally what true kindness is. Let’s see what it isn’t. False kindness can come in the form of being a “yes man”. A “yes man” is a person who always says yes to please or flatter someone, regardless of the consequences of their agreement. Being kind isn’t agreeing with someone to please and flatter them.
“A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.” – Proverbs 29:5.
Being a “yes man” is also a form of fear and selfishness, as you don’t want to deal with rejection, disagreements, or people being unhappy with you because you wouldn’t give in to their wants and desires. Another form of false kindness is “being nice is being kind”. Niceness and kindness are different but can be paired together. Once again, kindness is the extending act of love, while niceness is simply being pleasant and polite. Kindness comes from love, and love seeks the best for people. Being kind isn’t always being nice, as tough love does exist and is necessary at times. Being kind can be in the form of saying no to someone’s desire because you desire what’s best for them, not what they want. This is especially prevalent if their desire is from their flesh and selfish side. Now that being said, we should desire to be kind in the most gentle and polite way. We don’t want to bash someone, but handle things carefully. Lastly, kindness isn’t always convenient. Many people will only be kind when things are convenient, but what little love is there in that? If you choose to be kind only when it lines up with what you want to do, then are you really extending love to someone? Love is selfless, and you’re putting what you desire first before love. David had to go out of his way to great lengths beyond what many of us have ever done. Facing your enemy face to face and searching through all of your nation to show kindness to one person because of another. We need to ask ourselves how far we are willing to go to show kindness to another. Will you go out of your way to do that? That level of kindness is the kindness that carries great love and value, even when it is convenient, because the heart is there. So overall, we can all say we love people, but are you willing to extend that love to others through acts and gestures of kindness? Are you willing to be kind to those whom you don’t like or have done you wrong? That’s true kindness, because God went that far to show us kindness by sacrificing Jesus to give us the opportunity to have a new and better life through Christ.