Kindness

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL BY PATRICE TSAGUE

Do you ever wonder why people are not more kind to each other?
How is your external kindness towards others a manifestation of your internal happiness? What are the seven expressions of kindness that you should practice daily?

Kindness

You may have heard the expression “God don’t like ugly” or “What goes around, comes around” when someone does something unkind. These sayings express the view that bad things will happen to the evildoer as a result of their actions. It is true that God does not like “ugly” behaviors and actions, especially when they are against one of His sons or daughters. It is God’s will for us to be kind to one another.

Kindness is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Kindness does not cost much to give but is sometimes hard to come by. Despite its low cost and high-return benefits, most people do not walk in kindness as well or as often as they should. However, being an “ambassador of kindness” is especially important for the Biblical Entrepreneur. 

Kindness is not just a sign that you are Spirit-led, but it can also be very good for business. Kindness makes people want to do business with you. It is great for customer service, as it yields repeat customers. And while kindness makes you likable and approachable, it costs you nothing.

Now you may be wondering if kindness is so inexpensive and can yield such high returns, why aren’t more people kind? Kindness is a genuine expression of favor, generosity, and goodwill toward others based upon one’s internal sense of happiness. The key to kindness is that it must be honest, sincere, and genuine. You cannot manufacture it.

Kindness is an external expression that springs out of the internal reality of who you are. Therefore, to be truly kind, you must be internally happy, contented, and blessed. This is because when it comes to kindness, you simply cannot give externally what you do not possess internally.

The sad reality is that those who do not treat others with kindness are generally not happy or at peace with themselves. Happy people are kind people. Unhappy people are unkind people. Kindness must be an overflow of the state of your heart and your internal state of well-being; otherwise, it will be fake or short-lived. 

How can you cultivate kindness that is genuine and enduring?

• Love God
• Accept God’s love for you
• Love yourself
• Show your love for others by exercising acts of kindness on a regular basis
  

Kindness is something that you should become intentional about demonstrating daily so that it can become part of your natural demeanor and lifestyle. Consider practicing the seven acts of kindness listed below on a regular basis, and I guarantee that you will soon notice a difference, not just in how you feel, but also in how you are treated by others.

• Smile
• Affirm and encourage
• Help
• Serve
• Give
• Say “Thank you”
• Forgive

Remember that you cannot manufacture these actions from a place of discontent or unhappiness. If you do, they will be short-lived, and appear false and fake. True acts of kindness must spring out of your love for God, your acceptance of how much God loves you, your love for yourself, and your sincere desire to share that love with others. Cultivate your relationship with God, and you will be simultaneously developing a wellspring of kindness, along with the other fruits of the Spirit.

Remember, “Love suffers long and is kind.” (1 Corinthians 13:4)

My prayer for you this week is that God will give you the revelation within your heart of just how blessed you are and that He enables you to enthusiastically share the blessing of kindness with others by regularly exercising acts of kindness toward them.