CULTIVATE: Kindness

Readings and Reflections for the week to help you cultivate kindness in your life.
Sunday – Proverbs 12:25
Ask Yourself: The book of Proverbs is an Old Testament book filled with short sayings of wisdom. It might be like the modern day version of saying “Confusious says…” Proverbs will provide our readings for the first part of this week. In this particular passage we find something we know far too much about these days; stress. It tells us that stress (anxiety) weighs us down. Who in your life is that one person you turn to when you feel anxious and they tend to say those kind things that help? This week, be aware of people in your life who have a heavy heart and be purposeful about sharing a kind word.
Monday – Proverbs 11:17
Ask Yourself: Mission trips are an excellent way of taking a step in faith. The most common statement heard from people who go on mission is “I went to serve others and found that I got more out of it than I gave.” Some feel a sense of guilt for that. Others recognize that it is in giving kindness that our hearts are rewarded in a deeply spiritual way. How can you offer a selfless service to someone else this week in order to experience that spiritual reward?
Tuesday – Proverbs 14:31
Ask Yourself: In oriental philosophy there is an opposite for everything; a yin to every yang. Good has bad, love has hate, honor has shame. In Hebrew (and consequently Christian) theology kindness has as its opposite contempt, wrath, or scorn. An unjust society is one that has decided that some people are less and deserve less than others. This scripture shows indicates that a hate for some shows a hate for God. Is their a group or type of person that you find difficult to be kind to? God loves them as much as you. How do you reconcile that?
Wednesday – Proverbs 11:17-21
Ask Yourself: The scripture deals with that ancient belief that those who side with work of God in this world (righteousness, blamelessness, justice) will live. Those who side against God (evil, crooked, and wicked) will die, or be punished. As Christians we believe that it’s not the good that we do that earns us heaven, but rather the goodness (grace) of God that does. However, as Christians we are then called upon to share God’s goodness with the world. In what ways are you living out your Christian calling?
Thursday – 1 Corinthians 13:4
Ask Yourself: Love was the subject for last week. However, love and kindness are equated in this verse. Love has many forms and only one involves physical intimacy. Brotherly love, for instance, refers to the love that we share with people we respect and care for. In the persuit of the Christ-centered life we are called to love one another by doing those kindnesses what make love concrete. How can you share brotherly love this week?
Friday – 1 Thessalonians 5:15
Ask Yourself: Revenge is a very powerful motivator. The Bible clearly tells us that revenge belongs to God and not to the frailties and failings of humanity. (See also Ephesians 4:26 and Romans 12:19) Learning to allow God’s will to take place is often a bitter pill to swallow in a society that tends to teach us to exact revenge. Offering kindness is its own revenge and leaves room for God to work. (See Proverbs 25:21-22) If someone does you harm this week, how can you heap kindness upon them?
Saturday – 2 Peter 1:5-8
Ask Yourself: Scripture is very clear that our movement toward becoming a Christ follower is a process of maturity. Kindness is another step in that process. How’d you do this week? Did you grow another step closer to God?