Kindness The fruit of the Spirit is love

Kindness “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness. . . ” Galatians 5: 22

A true story about the power of kindness…

In May of 2001 my wife and I adopted our daughter from China. The first leg of our flight home was from Shanghai China to Los Angeles. It was a long twelve hour flight. For over half the flight our daughter cried non stop. I carried her and paced up and down the aisle. I was exhausted, embarrassed angry. All I could think about were the other passengers. We were disturbing everyone on that flight.

We were halfway through the flight. It was the middle of the night. I was standing up and holding our daughter. During this whole period I intentionally did not look at anyone. I was afraid of the disgust and anger I would see on the faces of those poor irritated people surrounding me. Then in the midst of my grueling ordeal I encountered something very unexpected.

I accidentally made eye contact with a gentleman who was sitting directly behind me. For six hours this man watched me get up and down and up and down. He was force to listen to hour after hour of crying. I looked at him and he looked at me. He didn’t say a word.

All he did was smile. That’s it. He smiled. That one small act of kindness made all the difference. I wasn’t looking for it. I wasn’t anticipating it. But, boy, did I need it!

That smile told me that he had been there before. Probably every person on that flight had been where I was. I then looked around and noticed that no one was looking at me. No one was upset. That one small act of kindness put everything into perspective for me.

I don’t know his name. I will never see him again. Even if I did, I wouldn’t recognize him. However, I will never forget what he did.

That one small act of kindness put everything into perspective for me.

My entire attitude changed in an instant simply because a perfect stranger showed me one small act of kindness.

Now, for the rest of the story!

The second leg of our flight was from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh. And guess what happened?

During that flight there was an older couple who sat directly behind us. They were taking their infant grandson home with them. And he cried for the whole flight. He was so loud that the flight attendants gave everyone earphones. Back then, they normally charged for them, but because of the child’s crying, they gave them away.

This elderly couple was desperate an on the verge of pulling their hair out. So, guess what I did. I turned around and I gave them a great big smile! I didn’t know if they needed it as much as I did. But, I knew they needed something.

Just for the record, our daughter slept that whole flight. I can only imagine what the people around us were thinking. “Why can’t that little boy be as angelic as the little girl who is sleeping right in front of him? ” If only they knew!

Someone showed me kindness at a moment when I really needed it. They did not do it because they had to. They did it because they knew I needed it. And the first chance I got, I passed on the favor. Why? Because, I knew the power of an act of kindness.

Never underestimate the power of kindness!

The Fruit of the Spirit Love: This is the foundation from which the Holy Spirit produces all the other fruits. Joy, peace and patience: The focus of these three fruits is inward. These are the Spiritual fruits that enable us to encounter the challenges in our lives with a godly and edifying perspective. Kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control: The focus of the rest of the fruits of the Spirit are outward. These are the Spiritual fruits that empower and compel us to embrace the people in our lives with a godly and edifying perspective. Love is the foundational fruit from which all others grow. Joy, peace and patience are the inward fruits the Holy Spirit uses in us to develop a godly soul. Kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are the outward fruits the Holy Spirit uses through us build a godly community.

What is kindness? The American Heritage Dictionary defines kindness as one who is friendly, generous, or warmhearted. It is one who is sympathetic, charitable, considerate, forbearing, tolerant, and humane. This definition is pretty close to biblical kindness. Biblical But, kindness is derived from an attitude. in order for our kindness to be biblical, it must always be proceeded by activity.

What is biblical kindness? Biblical kindness is a friendly, sympathetic, forbearing attitude that leads us to intentionally touch and help people in their need. Biblical kindness cannot be defined by how we feel. It must be defined by how we act and what we do! Remember, this is a fruit of the Spirit. This is not some calculated effort to be kind so people think you are filled with the Spirit! When you walk in the Spirit, you will see the world from God’s perspective. When you do, you will start developing a genuine heart of compassion for people around you. When you see people struggling, the Spirit of God will stoke your compassion and you will want to do something.

How is biblical kindness demonstrated? There are lots of people who are friendly, warmhearted, sympathetic, considerate, forbearing, tolerant and humane, but they don’t actually do anything. They feel, but they do not act. If we are going to show biblical kindness we must provide something beneficial for someone. We must actually do something that touches another person. One theological dictionary defined the Greek word for kindness this way: To be useful and benevolent, to help people, to provide that which is good for people.

In order for kindness to be biblical, it must be accompanied with activity that helps another person!

Why are we to show kindness to others? I Corinthians 13 defines godly love. The second characteristic that defines love is kindness. If you walk in God’s love you will walk in kindness. Kindness is motivated by love. Because God loves us He shows us kindness. If we love others, we will show them kindness. If you are not showing kindness to others it is because you are not walking in God’s love. If you are walking in the Spirit, godly kindness will be a natural and spontaneous outflow. Kindness must become a defining characteristic of all believers.

Why are we to show kindness to others? An act of kindness will give you access into people’s lives. It will open the door to their hearts. It will open the door into their homes. If you touch someone in their need they will invite you into their lives. If the person is a believer, your act of kindness will confirm and build their faith.

Why are we to show kindness to others? There is a connection between love and kindness. Jesus loves us, so he shows us kindness. When we love others, we will show them kindness. When we show people kindness, they will open their lives to us. When they open up, then we can share the love of Jesus that can lead them to salvation. Acts of kindness may prove to be the most effective way to get into people’s lives. However, Spirit filled kindness is not a strategy. It is an outpouring that opens doors. One does not demonstrate kindness because it is an effective tool. One shows kindness because they are kind!

Why are we to show kindness to others? In May of 2001, my wife and I were on a plane. Our daughter cried for over six hours and we were desperate. I am sure there were a lot of people on that flight who were feeling sympathetic to us. But it was the one individual who actually made eye contact with me and offered me a friendly gesture that made all the difference.

We are surrounded by people who are disillusioned. They desperately need someone to show them kindness. You may be amazed at just how powerful one small act of kindness can be.

Your act of kindness may open a door that will change someone’s life for eternity.