1 Corinthians 13:4, Charity is Kind

1 Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind …

The Christian’s love is characterized by kindness. The root word for “kindness” means “to furnish what is needed, useful and profitable”. This word is translated as “good” as opposed to bad in 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” And in Luke 6:35 this word is also translated “kind”, “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”

Then in Ephesians 4:32, the Apostle Paul uses the word “kind”, in our relationship describing the willingness to forgive offences committed against us by others. Ephesians 4:32 read “And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” It describes God’s kindness even towards the ungrateful.

What is the origin of such kindness? Titus 3:4 tells us it is exemplified by God’s love toward man in the person of His Son, Jesus. Titus 3:4 says “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.” Jesus Christ’s life and death exemplifies the personality of God’s character called kindness. Amen.