Showing Kindness

 

    What is kindness?  Kindness is displaying steadfast love.  It is what maintains any relationship by showing graciousness in times of need or distress.  Kindness is being loyal.  It goes beyond emotions by becoming a choice.  It is action in the form of mercy, grace, and vocabulary.  It can be as small as being a good host or as grand as not hurting a person that is already hurting.

    King David tried to show kindness to the Ammonites.  However, their new king was not in a place where he could except kindness.  He had poor counsel and a chip on his shoulder.  When a person is hard, they can't accept kindness because they assume there will be a price, trick, or something else behind the act.  

    Insecurity is the biggest thing that will keep a person from accepting an act of kindness.  How can they accept love, goodness, or anything else related to kindness if they can't see it within themselves.  The Ammonite king's insecurity led his people to war because of his grand and public insult in rejecting King David's kindness.  That war led to the death of his people and to be defeated.  It also cost them their alliance with the Arameans.  

    Kindness is a vital aspect of life.  We need to be able to give it and accept it.  If you struggle with accepting kindness, then you need to look within.  There is no need to lose relationships and a sense of closeness with people because of an insecurity.  I am not saying it will be easy or even fun digging into personal issues, but it may be the most rewarding thing you do in your life.

1 Chronicles 19