Being Kind

Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me…

Psalm 35:7

We can state with the certainty of Scripture’s affirmation, as well as our own observation, that we generally are treated by others the way we have treated them.

There are times and circumstances when people may mistake an unkind man for a kind one and, by giving him the benefit of the doubt, treat him better than he deserves. And there will be times that, by the grace and kindness of God, we will love people who are unworthy of our love. It is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4). And, of course, there are times that kind and generous people are treated unkindly.

But in a general sense, we get what we give in life.

So, David prayed a prayer that upheld the justice of God and the moral balance He has placed in the world. Those that had attacked him without just cause, who fabricated stories and lied about him to others, who sought to take from him what rightfully belonged to him, who sought to destroy him and bring him down, that God would judge them and deal with them justly.

But the teachings of Christ were much more profound, and He overruled the justice principle of the Old Testament with the grace principle of the New. “As you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven… Matthew 5:43–45

The graciousness of the Heavenly Father calls us to also be gracious.

There are some believers in Christ who seem to have forgotten this principle. They seem to think that God has called us to shout down the opposition, to unkindly dispense with detractors and infidels of all and any sort. And they who are ungracious will usually be treated ungraciously by others.

But to give a witness for Christ is not merely about being right, it is also about being kind and gracious. It was said that when Jesus visited His home synagogue in Nazareth,

And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” Luke 4:22

It is far better to amaze people with gracious words, even if they violently turn on us as they did upon Jesus in Nazareth, than to shock them with mean-spirited responses.

It is a cry from my own heart, “Lord, make me more gracious!” and similarly, “Lord, make Your people a gracious people!” There are some we will lead to be open to the cause of Christ just by our kindness to them. It is good for our own soul to be kind to others, even to those who do not deserve it. And we may trust the Lord to preserve for us a reward for righteous behavior and faithfulness to His cause. As well as rightfully expect to be treated in life with the same kindness that we have treated others. “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25, NLT).