There are No Small Random Acts of Kindness

by Beth Fore

Today we often hear about people doing “random acts of kindness.” One example is a person who drives through a fast-food restaurant and gives the attendant enough money to serve the next customer a cup of coffee or a meal. The giver doesn’t know who the receiver will be, so the person receiving the gift may seem random; but the act of kindness is not random.  The giver intentionally decides to be kind to someone and carries through with that desire by paying for the gift before the receiver receives the gift. I also doubt that the receiver is random; rather, I think God places people in our lives whom He knows that we can minister to in a personal, relevant, way.

In the Bible, kindness often refers to being friendly, generous, considerate, gentle, good, compassionate, and merciful. Kindness is often shown to people who are vulnerable and poor, such as widows and orphans, in the Bible. Kind people choose to encourage and assist people who are in need of something to build them up and help them with their unfortunate circumstances in life.

There are scriptures in the Bible that encourage us to be kind to other people.  “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32 New International Version). As Christians, we are told to be kind toward one another in a way that is totally unselfish, acting in the best interest of another person in the same way Christ acted toward people in a very kind, loving, compassionate, forgiving way. To forgive as Christ forgave is a very difficult thing to do, but it is a very high calling for us to attain. When we imitate Christ, His light will shine through us, and other people will respond and desire to follow Him.

An act of kindness should never be considered to be small. A warm smile and a kind word of thanks or a wish for a joyful day may be the perfect medicine for a person who is sad or depressed. Opening the door for someone or giving a person a tip for serving you shows the person that someone notices them and is making them feel appreciated and respected as a person of value. When something goes wrong at home, a person may start their day with a very negative or self-belittling attitude. Wishing them a joyful day, giving them a cup of coffee, complimenting them, or just nodding your head may change the rest of their day.

As Christians, we should ask God to have people cross our path each day who need our encouragement, compassion, and kindness. Then we should ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and our hearts in a loving, generous way so that we will see these people and be ready to serve them. When we truly seek to help people and we seek God’s help and guidance, He will bring us in contact with the people He knows we can help. Keeping gift cards, Scripture cards, magnets or pens with verses written on them in our purses or pockets prepares us to offer people something right on the spot. We can also offer to pray with or for the person, if it is appropriate in the situation.

Oftentimes we think we can’t show kindness towards others because of our own circumstances. We may be sick and confined to our homes, or we may be old and confined to our beds. Regardless of our circumstances, we can still find ways to show kindness to others. We can compliment or thank our caregivers for their love and kindness toward us. We can send a text message, send a card, or call someone else who is lonely and discouraged and check on them to see that they are okay. The amount of money and the value of the gifts we give are not nearly as important as the love in our hearts that motivates us to show kindness because we love Christ and we love our fellow human beings.

Kindness is one of the fruits of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).  When we seek to do God’s will and we ask for the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, He will refine us and transform us into the likeness of Christ; and we will grow up and mature into beautiful spiritual beings who produce good fruit, including kindness. People will know that we are Christians by the love we have for God, one another, and for our neighbors.

Kindness is one of those attributes that rewards the giver with as much goodness as it gives the receiver. Usually the receiver is joyful and grateful for the kindness shown to him. Seeing how positively the receiver is makes the giver happy and joyful because he has made someone feel loved, appreciated, and blessed. Kindness improves relationships and everyone involved feels uplifted, encouraged, and recognized. Oftentimes the receiver passes on the kindness to someone else who needs it; and the kindness is like the leaven in bread that rises up and builds up relationships toward God and man.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”  (Colossians 3:12 NIV).