Wednesday, September 12, 2007
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is kind . . .
LOVE IS KIND
On one hand the critics of family and of schools decry the passivity of the current generation of children. The "nation of spectators" they say. On the other there seems to be a creeping aura of aggression and domination, left unchecked by whatever passes for current moral policy in our day. Everyone seems to be yelling -- parents at children, bosses at employees, players and fans at officials, spouses at one another. And it often is profane and vulgar. When the verbal appears ineffective, the next step is abuse of the physical variety. Where do nice guys really finish?
The apostle Paul adds kindness to his list of solutions for the troubled congregation in Corinth. In contrast to the apparent self-interest and confusion present among the members he offered the gentleness, generosity, and sympathy of God as a resource to solve their problems.
Kindness means to show oneself as mild and pleasant. It is descriptive of the love of God who did not vent His anger against mankind who deserved it, but against Christ who, in His own person, did not. "The Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).
Witness Paul's comfort to Titus: "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared . . . according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (3:4-5). And notice the power: "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God's kindness should lead you to repentance?" (Romans 2:4 NIV). Kindness is another one of those fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians five and implored by Paul in Ephesians 4:32: "Be kind to one another . . ."
The quality of kindness is taught by the Spirit, an oft difficult lesson to be learned when children break things or forget their duties, when we're running late or have headaches, when other people's faults and shortcomings seem unbearable, when those administering the affairs of the church appear to be doing things all backwards, or when spouses are particularly insensitive. "Be kind to one another."
