This entry is part 4 of 12 in the series: True Love

God says, “Love is kind” (1 Cor 13). Kindness is:

Showing sympathy concern and understanding. Unselfish concern for others welfare, compassion and generosity.

When someone tells you about some awful or unfortunate event that happened to them, how do you respond? I’ve found that Christians can be the most callous of them all when it comes to someone else’s hurts and pains — they simply don’t care to sympathize. I’m talking about this subject because a lack of kindness will result in a lack of unity.

Why should we care how others feel? Because Jesus cares and this is the way the kingdom works. No one is detached and everyone is connected. When one part of the body is hurt, the whole body tends to that part. We as sons and daughters of the true God will do the same.

We must care enough to understand what others feel. Sympathy brings comfort to those who experience hurt. When someone takes the time to listen, it makes that situation all the more bearable. The reason why people tell others their hurts is because they feel alone in them. Showing sympathy joins that person and brings emotional support.

Males are taught to be unkind

Even though the lack of kindness shows itself in both sexes, men are actually taught not to be kind. Kindness is looked at as weakness; and so they learn to cut off kindness becoming careless and callous. In fact, the more callous and ruthless, the better (at least, when in the presence of other males).

This teaching could have possibly come from soldiers in battle – you can’t show compassion for the enemy or you’d risk being killed. This may apply to war, but not the rest of life. It’s not uncommon for a male to have difficulty showing kindness for his family in sensitive situations. Little boys, when hurt, are told to “bulk-up”, “deal with it”. This develops a callous response to sensitive situations.

We as children of God are to show kindness regardless of the world’s view of it. As we understand this important attribute of love and fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) we’ll be able to love our brothers and sisters properly.