The apostle Paul wrote to the church of Galatia and said, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." The message of Galatians 5:22-23 still resounds today. If we are born of the Spirit (John 3:5, Acts 2:38, Romans 8) it is natural for us to bear the fruit of the Spirit. What does that mean? In this space today, I would like for us to consider "KINDNESS" as a fruit of the Spirit.
If we are going to have a greater appreciation for the word KINDNESS, we need to go back to the creation account in Genesis 1. I'm going to emphasis the word KIND and you may never read the creation account the same again. On day three God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its KIND, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so (v.11). On day five "God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their KIND, and every winged bird according to its KIND. And God saw that it was good" (v.21). On day six God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its KIND: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its KIND”; and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth according to its KIND, cattle according to its KIND, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its KIND. And God saw that it was good (vs.24-25)."
When you read Genesis 1 and emphasis the word KIND you can obviously see a lot of KINDNESS. First, I want you to see that everything is created and planted on the earth. This is why Moses uses the words KIND and seed. We don't think of ourselves as seed, or being planted by the Lord, but its true! Adam was formed out of the dust of the earth and then God planted in the Garden of Eden. The Scriptures are revealing what we now call "The Seed Principle." Everything planted in the Garden was to bear seed after its own kind. Humans are no different. Everything was supposed to fruitful, multiply and fill the earth.
Once we realize the purpose of man, we can better understand God's command that follows. God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth... See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food (vs.29-30).” Humans are basically left in charge over creation. We are called to have "dominion" over everything on the earth and protect our own KIND which has been created in the image of God (v.26). Therefore, KINDNESS springs from the thought of caring for and watching over our own KIND.
How can we be KIND? We need to be more like our Creator and see ourselves as created in God's image. All races on the earth come from the Garden. There is no place for racism or prejudice if we believe in KINDNESS. Proverbs 19:22 says, "What is desired in a man is KINDNESS." This is why we are called to love one another. The apostle Paul said, "Be KINDLY affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another" (Romans 12:10) and "be KIND to one another" (Ephesians 4:32). These principles are taught throughout Scripture.
Are you a KIND person? Do you show KINDNESS to others? How do you reflect the Creator? Are you representing Jesus? Our goal as humans, and especially as Christians, is to be KIND to each other. May God bless you and keep you! Choose KINDNESS.
You are loved.
Dr. Ray Reynolds