Love is Kind

 DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

LOVE IS KIND

1 Cor 13:4-7

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

NIV

Love is kind is our next aspect of how love is defined. If we love others as we love ourselves, we certainly would not be mean to others but would be kind toward them. It is interesting to be kind, or kindness has been discussed as a yearlong classroom curriculum that covers, caring, courage, respect, responsibility, integrity, and inclusiveness which all bring us back to kindness. Another source has defined kindness as the sincere and voluntary use of one’s time, talent, and resources to better the lives of others, one’s own life, and the world through genuine acts of love, compassion, generosity, and service. It is also interesting the Greek word translated as kind is only used once in the whole New Testament, with the meaning of showing oneself to be mild. However, it is also seen as being useful or beneficial, which must be motivated by love. To be kind is certainly the opposite of being mean as meanness stems out of selfishness, self-conceit, and pridefulness. Kindness as being useful stems from putting others before oneself. To have this kindness genuinely or sincerely in our hearts toward others can surely be seen as an act of usefulness toward others. These acts of kindness or usefulness toward others cannot be forced or done without first having genuine love in our hearts. We have seen kindness as nothing more than a façade to cover up the selfish motivation within, which is looking for a positive response from others to the benefit of the shower of this false type of kindness. This is why to be kind must come from the heart out of genuine care for others. Let us re-examine our inner being, our heart, even seeking God to show us if our heart contains loving kindness, or that He has more work to do within us concerning love.