Today, February 17th, according to the internet, is “Random Acts of Kindness” Day in the US. Is this a holiday that you celebrate? Did you, perhaps, pay for the lunch of the family behind you at the drive through? Did you give up a prime parking space to someone else, just to make them smile? Did you, maybe, leave an extra large tip for a waitress? If so, you were a part of an informal holiday, started in New Zealand, in which people try to find random and kind things to do for people that they come across on that day. Now, kindness is a great thing! The world can always use more kindness. However, I don’t think that a Christian should necessarily celebrate “Random Acts of Kindness Day”….
The Bible has a lot to say to a Christian about kindness.
- We are to be kind because of whose family we are in– It’s Who We Are: If we are children of God, we should be like him, and be kind even to the ungrateful, the evil, the enemies.
Luke 6:35 — But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
2. We should be characterized by kindness– It’s What We Do:
Titus 2:5 — to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Ephesians 4:32 — Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
3. We are to put on kindness– It’s What We Wear
Colossians 3: 12-13 — Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
4. Kindness is a fruit of the spirit–It’s What We Produce
Galatians 5:22-23 — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
So, why then would a Christian not celebrate “Random Acts of Kindness Day”? Consider with me Johnny Appleseed. Every day he planted trees, apple trees. It is who he was, and what he did. Would Arbor day then be of special significance to him? He wouldn’t say, “I better plant a tree today, because it is Arbor day.” He would have been too busy planting trees every day. Similarly, a Christian should be busy being kind every day. It’s who you are. It’s what you do. It’s what you wear. It’s what you produce.
If you did some random acts of kindness today, that is good. But, tomorrow, when it is just an ordinary day, be kind again. And the next day.
Let us, as children of a God who is known for his kindness, set the standard for kindness in the world with lots of “not so random” acts of kindness every day.
With Joy,
Kathleen
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Very convicting.
Thanks for reading, Gloria! When I write posts, they are convicting for me, too. I need to remind myself to be kind, anywhere I go during my week. Have a blessed day!
Thank you for sharing this at @100HappyDays! It’s interesting to me that kindness is something we are to put on…every day. It shows that I need to be intentional and make efforts to show kindness. Thank you for your encouragement!
Thanks, Valerie. Have a blessed week!
This is so true, Kathleen. There shouldn’t be anything “random” about our kind actions. We should be intentional about being kind every day. Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks for stopping by, Shannon.
Hi Kathleen,
I want to let you know that I’ve included this post among my riveting reads from the last two months (http://ofthehearth.com/riveting-reads-january-and-february-2016/). I benefited from it and I think my readers will, too!
Thanks for sharing, Shannon. I hope that your readers will benefit. I will check out your other riveting reads. Have a blessed day!