The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
June 24, 2001
In
This Issue:
"Love
is Kind"
By
Steve Klein
LOVE IS KIND
Simple descriptions of deep things are usually the best. And that is surely the case in the beautiful description of love given by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13. Here we are told that, among other things, "love&ldots;is kind" (13:4). Love is kind in many ways.
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Love shows mercy. Mercy is what allows us to refrain from being harsh toward others, even toward our enemies. Mercy enables us to help the poor -- perhaps not charging the full price for something they need or even giving it to them outright (see Proverbs 14:21, 31). Jesus said, "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. {36} Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful" (Luke 6:35-36).
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Love forgives. How unkind it is to refuse to forgive. In Ephesians 4:32 we are instructed to "be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you." If God found it in His heart to forgive you and me, surely we can be kind enough to forgive others, no matter what they have done to us.
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Love does good deeds for others. When Paul and his company was shipwrecked on the island of Malta, Acts 28:2 says that, "the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold." This was a simple act of loving-kindness, performed by people who were not even Christians. There are so many little acts of kindness we can do. Out of love, let us look for these opportunities.
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Love rebukes. Although we would not automatically think of rebuke as a kindness, it often is. People who love us want us to be the best we can be. From such motives a parent might rebuke a child, a friend might rebuke a friend, and a Christian might rebuke another Christian. Yes, "Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it" (Psalms 141:5).
Proverbs 22:19 says, "what is desired in a man is kindness." Today, my challenge to me is to look for opportunities to be kind. This is what God desires. This is the behavior of love.
by Steve Klein