Last week we began looking at the fruit of the Spirit.  The importance of bearing this fruit is seen by the fact that real Christians are those who are following the Spirit, and those who follow Him bear His fruit.  Fortunately, we know just what that looks like because Paul tells us what the fruit of the Spirit is.

So far we have seen four characteristics that are a part of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, and patience).  This week let’s consider the other five.

The next fruit that Paul refers to is kindness.  The Greek word for kindness has many different nuances of meaning.  It emphasizes being thoughtful and considerate of others, as well as being sympathetic, compassionate, and gentle.  In fact, the KJV uses the word gentleness rather than kindness.  It also emphasizes being useful.  In most bible dictionaries, usefulness is the first definition given for the Greek word.

All of these nuances of meaning are a part of what it means to be kind.  The truth is, the only way we can be what God wants us to be; the only way we can be useful is by being kind and compassionate to others.  For example, God demands that we preach the gospel to the lost.  How do we do it usefully?  By doing it with compassion and consideration, that is, with kindness.

Colossians 4:6 (ESV)
⁶  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

God demands that we do our best to restore the fallen.  How do we do it usefully?  By doing it with a sympathetic heart.

Galatians 6:1 (ESV)
¹  Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

God demands that we rebuke those who sin; reprove the unfruitful works of darkness, and refute false teachers.  How do we do it usefully?  By doing it with the spirit of gentleness.

2 Timothy 2:24-25 (ESV)
²⁴  And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, ²⁵  correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,

When it comes to our dealing with people, we must be kind and gentle.  Packages that are shipped through the mail will have a label that says, “Handle with Care” if the contents are valuable.   Sometimes those words are overlooked on packages, and the contents get damaged.  Well, when it comes to people whom God has created in His own image, He has placed a label on them that says, “Handle with Care.”  Every passage in the Bible that says be kind to others, instructing us to be loving, gentle, and compassionate when we are dealing with one another, is a “Handle with care” label.  The question is, are those labels overlooked or ignored?  Let me tell you who doesn’t overlook them—those who are being led by the Spirit of God.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.