For example, Ruth exercised kindness in pursuing Boaz for the sake of Naomi when she could have looked for a younger husband (Ruth 3:10). In sum, kindness looks out for others ahead of oneself. At the same time, a kind love is not unnecessarily harsh and seeks to convey hard truths with sweetness (Prov. Indeed, to receive rebuke from a righteous person is a great kindness (Ps. Kindness should be distinguished from niceness because kindness does not shy away from speaking a word that might be seen as harsh if that word is necessary for correction. It actively seeks the good of the beloved and does what it can to bring that good about. Kindness is a more active quality than patience. Matthew Henry comments that love “will put up with many slights and neglects from the person it loves, and wait long to see the kindly effects of such patience on him.” Patient love will not hurry things along and insist that love have its effect immediately but will look for the proper time to act. That love is patient means that love does not respond in kind when others wrong us and does not seek revenge, knowing that perfect vengeance is the province of our Creator alone (Deut. When we are patient, we hold back from showing wrath even when wrath might be justified in the hopes that the beloved will see the error of his ways and thus escape our fury. Patience enables us to restrain ourselves in the interest of the good of others. One commentator notes that patience and kindness represent passive and active features of love, respectively. For love to be patient and kind means, among other things, that it seeks godly responses from the beloved, just as God’s patience and kindness seek the godly response of repentance. Paul says in Romans 2:4 that the patience and kindness of the Lord are meant to lead us to repentance. Indeed, the purpose for which God shows kindness and patience is instructive for us. After all, patience and kindness are signature attributes of God, who is love (Rom. That love is patient and kind should not surprise us. In today’s passage, Paul begins to define love, telling us first of all that “love is patient and kind” (13:4a). Yet, we can hardly exercise love if we do not know what it consists of. Special thanks to for the data on the most well-known Bible verses.Love is of supreme importance in the church and is the context in which we must exercise our spiritual gifts as we serve the body of Christ (1 Cor. Unless otherwise noted, all Bible verses are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. He has told you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?Īnd above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.īut the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control against such things there is no law.īut if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Love is patient and kind love does not envy or boast it is not arrogant (Proverbs 19:17) Why not watch for opportunities to express kindness to. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The Bible assures us that kindness shown to others is actually lending to Jehovah. Otherwise you too will be cut off.Ībove all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.ĭo not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.īut love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.Ī man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.
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