The fruit of the Spirit is…kindness

     The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22, 23. NIV

        As always, we go to the dictionary for starters. “Kindness” is defined by Merriam-Webster, as “the quality or state of being sympathetic or helpful”. Vine’s Dictionary indicates, for this Greek word, “goodness of heart”. We like this definition—it shows the internal state that issues in “sympathetic and helpful” acts. Remember the man lame from birth, begging at the Beautiful temple gate? Peter said, “Walk!” And he did. Goodness in Peter’s heart spurred him to this act of kindness. (Acts 4:9)

        In Sidon, on their way to Rome, the centurion Julius was sympathetic and helpful to Paul by letting him go to his friends. (Acts 27:3.) Later on, the as-yet non-Christian Maltese showed unusual kindness to the passengers and crew of the wrecked ship. (Acts 28:2.)

        In fact, when Paul lists all the hardships he’s been through—beatings, imprisonments, riots and the rest—one of his main tools to reach unbelievers is “kindness”. (2 Corinthians 6:6)

        We love to see examples of kindness in our fellow man. And maybe we need the occasional reminder to be kind ourselves. How much more wonderful to receive kindness from God. In Lystra (Acts 14:17) Paul’s proof that God is kind is “rain from heaven and crops in their seasons.” Out of the goodness of God’s heart, we experience these blessings, but He has another reason—God’s kindness is intended to lead us to repentance. (Romans 2:4.) Why would we ever show contempt for kindness?

        When we at last come to our header verse in Galatians 5 we discover that kindness is a fruit of the Spirit. Although unbelievers can be very kind, kindness should radiate from the Christian. We have received “the incomparable riches of his grace …in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7.) Kindness is, in fact, an article of our clothing! (Colossians 3:12.) Praise God, His ultimate act of kindness, the pinnacle of His mercy to us is, “He saved us!” (Titus 3:4.)