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Exhibiting God's Kindness in Everyday Relationships and Interactions

The concept of exhibiting God's kindness in daily life is deeply rooted in biblical teachings, emphasizing compassion, forgiveness, and service towards others. This kindness, often described as "lovingkindness" in the Old Testament, reflects a core attribute of God himself [2, 3, 5]. The Hebrew term hesed, frequently translated as lovingkindness, mercy, or steadfast love, denotes a loyal and covenantal commitment, a quality God demonstrates towards his people [15].

The Old Testament frequently extols God's lovingkindness, describing it as great, excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, and everlasting [5]. For instance, Psalm 92:2 speaks of proclaiming God's "loving kindness in the morning, and his faithfulness every night" [2]. This divine attribute is not merely a passive quality but an active benevolence that God exercises towards his creatures, encompassing mercy, pity, compassion, and long-suffering patience, even towards impenitent sinners [6]. It is through Christ that God's lovingkindness is fully revealed and extended to humanity [5]. John Gill, commenting on Psalm 92:2, suggests that God has shown forth his lovingkindness in Christ, and believers are called to show it forth with their lips, warming hearts and encouraging distressed minds [11]. Similarly, Gill notes that the "tender mercies and loving kindnesses" of God refer to his special mercy, grace, and love in Christ, which are abundant and manifest in various acts [12].

In the New Testament, the call to embody kindness is explicit. Ephesians 4:32 instructs believers to "Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you" [1]. This verse links human kindness directly to divine forgiveness, suggesting that the experience of God's grace should motivate similar actions in believers' relationships [1, 16]. John Gill elaborates on this, defining kindness as being good, affable, and courteous in looks, words, and actions, while tenderheartedness opposes being hard-hearted, cruel, or censorious [16]. The act of forgiveness is presented as a direct imitation of God's forgiveness through Christ [1, 16].

Exhibiting kindness extends to various aspects of daily interaction. It involves showing compassion to the afflicted, the chastened, and the poor [7]. Proverbs 19:17 states, "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done." This highlights a divine promise associated with acts of kindness towards those in need [7]. Liberality, or generosity, is also presented as a pleasing act to God, one that he never forgets [8]. Christ himself set an example of liberality, and it is a characteristic of saints [8]. This liberality should be exercised towards saints, servants, the poor, strangers, enemies, and indeed all people [8]. Giving gifts to the poor is seen as an act of love that reveals internal righteousness [13].

The practice of kindness can even transform hostile relationships. Tyndale House's commentary on Romans 12:20 suggests that "A simple act of Christian kindness can often bring a hostile person to repentance before God and restore fellowship between people" [10]. This aligns with the broader biblical principle of overcoming evil with good.

The importance of mutual love and kindness is underscored by Adam Clarke's commentary on 1 John 3:11, where one tradition states that "From the beginning God hath taught men that they should love one another." Clarke emphasizes that mutual love is essential for human comfort and well-being, making dependence pleasant and profitable. one tradition notes that "Nothing can be more pleasing to an ingenuous and generous mind than to communicate acts of kindness" [14]. This suggests that kindness is not only a duty but also a source of joy and fulfillment for the giver.

Furthermore, the Bible encourages believers to use their spiritual gifts to serve one another, reflecting the "manifold grace of God" [4]. This service, rooted in grace, is another way to express kindness in practical terms. The concept of "goodness" in God's character is described as a perfection he exercises towards his creatures, encompassing benevolence, mercy, pity, compassion, and long-suffering patience [6]. This divine goodness serves as the ultimate model for human kindness.

The historical development of Christian thought consistently emphasizes kindness as a fundamental virtue. Early Christian communities were known for their mutual care and compassion, often extending beyond their own members to the wider society. The "kiss of charity," for instance, was practiced not only as a friendly salutation but as an act symbolizing love and Christian fellowship [9]. This practice, rooted in ancient customs of affectionate salutation, became a distinctive mark of Christian community [9].

Sources

  1. Ephesians “Ephesians 4:32 (BSB) — Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.”
  2. Psalms “to proclaim your loving kindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night, -- Psalms 92:2”
  3. 2 Samuel “Now may Yahweh show loving kindness and truth to you. I also will reward you for this kindness, because you have done this thing. -- 2 Samuel 2:6”
  4. I Peter “I Peter 4:10 (BSB) — As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Goodness of God — A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Ps. 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes ”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Communion With God — Christ set an example of -- Lu 19:41,42. Exhortation to -- Ro 12:15; 1Pe 3:8. Exercise towards The afflicted. -- Job 6:14; Heb 13:3. The chastened. -- Isa 22:4; Jer 9:1. Enemies. -- Ps 35:13. The poor. -- Pr 19:17. The weak. -- 2Co 11:29; Ga 6:2. Saints. -- 1Co 12:25,26. Inseparable from love to God -- 1Jo 3:17; Joh 4:20. Motives to The compassion of God. -- Mt 13:27,33. The sense of our infirmities. -- Heb 5:2. The wicked made to feel, for saints -- Ps 106:46. Promise to those who show -- Pr 19:17; Mt 10:42. Illustrated -- Lu 10:33; 15:20. Exemp”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Liberality — Pleasing to God -- 2Co 9:7; Heb 13:16. God never forgets -- Heb 6:10. Christ set an example of -- 2Co 8:9. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 112:9; Isa 32:8. Unprofitable, without love -- 1Co 13:3. Should be exercised In the service of God. -- Ex 35:21-29. Toward saints. -- Ro 12:13; Ga 6:10. Toward servants. -- De 15:12-14. Toward the poor. -- De 15:11; Isa 58:7. Toward strangers. -- Le 25:35. Toward enemies. -- Pr 25:21. Toward all men. -- Ga 6:10. In leading to those in want. -- Mt 5:42. In giving alms. -- Lu 12:33. In relieving the destitute. -- Isa 58:”
  9. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Kiss — Kissing the lips by way of affectionate salutation was customary among near relatives of both sexes, in both patriarchal and later times. (Genesis 29:11; Song of Solomon 8:1) Between individuals of the same sex, and in a limited degree between those of different sexes, the kiss on the cheek as a mark of respect or an act of salutation has at all times been customary in the East, and can hardly be said to be extinct even in Europe. In the Christian Church the kiss of charity was practiced not only as a friendly salutation, but as an act symbolical of love and Ch”
  10. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 12:20: 12:20-21 A simple act of Christian kindness can often bring a hostile person to repentance before God and restore fellowship between people.”
  11. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 92:2: To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning,.... God has shown forth his lovingkindness in Christ, and Christ has shown it in a ministerial way; and saints should show it forth also with their lips, to warm the hearts of one another, and encourage distressed minds; this should be a part, and a considerable one, of their thanksgiving and praise; as it will appear to be, when the objects of it are considered, not angels, but men, and these the worst and vilest; the instances of it in election, redemption, calling, adoption, and eternal life; and the freeness, earlin”
  12. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 25:6: Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses,.... Not the providential mercy and kindness of God, in the care of him in his mother's womb, at the time of his birth, in his nurture and education, and in the preservation of him to the present time; but the special mercy, grace, and love of God in Christ: the sense of the petition is the same with that of Psa 106:4; which are expressed in the plural number, because of the largeness and abundance of it, and because of the various acts and instances of it; the Lord is rich and plenteous in mercy, abundant”
  13. Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 11:41: 11:41 by giving gifts to the poor: Acts of love reveal internal righteousness.”
  14. 1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 3:11: For this is the message - See Jo1 1:5. From the beginning God hath taught men that they should love one another. How essentially necessary this is to the comfort and well-being of man in this state of trial and difficulty, every sensible man must see. All are dependent upon all; all upon each, and each upon all. Mutual love makes this dependence pleasant and doubly profitable. Nothing can be more pleasing to an ingenuous and generous mind than to communicate acts of kindness.”
  15. Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 3:3: 3:3 Loyalty and kindness reflect the intimate and wholehearted commitment of God’s covenant relationship with his people (see Deut 6:8-9). • Write them: For a parallel command, see Prov 7:3.”
  16. Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 4:29: And be ye kind one to another,.... Good, affable, courteous; which appears in looks, words, and actions; by looking pleasantly on each other, speaking kindly to one another, and mutually doing every good office that lies in their way, and in their power: tender hearted: which is opposed to a being hard hearted to them that are in distress, and close at hand to the needy; to cruelty and severity to such who are subject to them, or have injured them; and to a rigid and censorious spirit to them that are fallen: forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake”
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