We all long to be around kind people and we want others to show kindness to us.
What is desirable in a man is his kindness, Proverbs 11:22a
Kindness comes to those who are kind.
Will they not go astray who devise evil? But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good. Proverbs 14:22
Kindness is not a characteristic that comes naturally. We are all basically selfish and self centered. Kindness is a character quality that must be learned and received. We learn kindness when we receive kindness.
With the kind You show Yourself kind; Psalm 18:25a
There is a cycle in our lives. When we are shown kindness then we learn to be kind. When we are kind then we receive kindness from others. However, if we are all basically self centered where do we begin to learn kindness.
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? Romans 2:4
The Lord is kind and when we experience the kindness of God then that is the beginning of our repentance. Repentance is turning from ourselves to God. Repentance is recognizing the selfishness in ourselves and turning to the Lord Jesus Christ to change us.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Galatians 5:22
We can not change ourselves but the Lord changes us when we become born again by His Spirit. When we are born again, we receive His Spirit and become His child. We are born into His family and He becomes our Father. He is kind and the fruit of His Spirit within us is kindness. When He comes to live within us then He shows His kindness to us and enables us to be kind to others.
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, Philippians 2:3-5
When we are kind to others then we will experience more and more the kindness of God. When we experience the kindness of God then we want to show kindness to others even more. It is a beautiful cycle that the Lord gives to us. Before we realize it our life is full on the inside and we will no longer feel empty as we did when our life was all about us and satisfying our desires and needs.
The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:25
The outcome for the person who learns to be kind is that their life will be satisfied and full of meaning and the Lord will water their life. The hand that gives is always full but the hand that receives is always empty.
Instructions To A Young Life 