When defining love, patience was listed first, then kindness. Kindness isn’t merely being nice, because nice has fear attached. Fear of what people think, fear of upsetting someone, or fear of not being accepted. And there’s no fear in love.

Kindness is also a fruit of the Spirit. So we believers should be known for our kindness. So what does kind mean?

Dictionary defines it as having or showing a friendly, generous, and considerate nature.

In I Corinthians 13…it’s a verb meaning to show one’s self useful, act benevolently.

In Galatians 5…it’s a noun meaning gentleness, excellence in character or demeanor.

In Matthew 26…it’s shown as good deed, worthy act, honest endeavor.

I personally define kindness as: a conscious decision to act towards another person in a way than reflects your belief that person has value.

Kindness is not weakness. It comes from a position of strength with no expectation of anything in return. Choosing to honor someone’s value.

In Matthew 26, Jesus is at dinner, when a woman arrives with a jar of oil. Beginning with verse 6 (TPT):

“Then Jesus went to Bethany, to the home of Simon, a man Jesus had healed of leprosy. A woman came into the house, holding an alabaster flask filled with fragrant and expensive oil. She walked right up to Jesus, and in a lavish gesture of devotion, she poured out the costly oil, and it cascaded over his head as he was at the table.

When the disciples saw this, they were offended. ‘What a total waste!’ they grumbled.’We could have sold it for a great deal of money and given it to the poor.’

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, ‘Why are you critical of this woman? She has done a beautiful act of kindness for me. You will always have someone poor whom you can help, but you will not always have me. When she poured the fragrant oil over me, she was preparing my body for burial. I promise you that as this wonderful gospel spreads all over the world, the story of her lavish devotion to me will also be mentioned in memory of her.’”

The disciples heaped shame on this woman. They saw her as wasteful. Jesus saw her heart, her kindness. She sacrificed all she had in the world, financially, to honor Him.

Jesus called them out for this bullying.

He respected her boldness and her choice to sacrifice all she had to honor Him, calling it a kindness. To this day, 2000 years later, her act of kindness is still remembered.

Point to ponder while you wander…. Be deliberate in your kindness in the lives of those in your world. Look for ways to be kind.

A sincere compliment or a word of encouragement may change their perspective and direction.

Acknowledging someone’s efforts with a thank you, shows someone they are seen and valued.

Kindness is a choice. It comes from a position of strength with no expectation of anything in return. The effect of your kindness, like this woman’s, may ripple for thousands of years.