Kindness. Once again, there are several different forms of kindness. One is originating from our character, such as moral goodness and integrity. The other is kindness toward others. The kindness often spoken of in the New Testament is from Christ toward us, such as in the expression of His mercy shown by dying on the cross and shown when we are truly repentant for our sin. The Lexicon actually has a very interesting word associated with the definition of kindness, which is benign. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “benign” as having a gentle disposition, gracious (which is an inward characteristic), and showing kindness and gentleness (which speaks to our relationships). This is the kindness which we show toward others.
Other meanings of benign are often associated with a tumor, meaning that it does not have a significant negative or offensive effect. This is certainly another way of interpreting the type of benign Galatians is referring to, namely, that we are not to have a significant negative effect on other people, such as described in Psalm 14 and specifically verse 3. The thought begun in Psalm 14 is carried forward to Romans 3:10-18, “As it is written, ‘THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE. 13 THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING, THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS; 14 WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS; 15 THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, 16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, 17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN. 18 THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.’”
The description of the person in Romans 3 is anti-kindness. Their words are death and poison, they do not seek righteousness or to please the Lord, they are full of bitterness, they have no objection to shedding blood and destroying other people, and they do not sow peace.
I once saw a church sign with this message, “Be a fountain, not a drain.” These are deep words, no pun intended. We all know people who are drains on our energy, the type of people described in Romans 3:10-18. They suck the life out of us and deplete our resources. Working with or being married to people like this makes life difficult. We have a choice whether to speak into someone’s life or deplete their resources. The kindness of Galatians 5 that the Holy Spirit would have us show others is like a fountain. It is refreshing to those around us and opens a channel for the Holy Spirit to speak into their lives. It is sweetness. It is the same root word used to describe the yoke of Christ in Matthew 11:30 (My yoke is easy and my burden is light) and to describe how we are to treat one another in Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
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