Kindness Under Fire: She Teaches with Kindness

by Marilynn Chadwick

A woman of valor who can find?...The teaching of kindness is on her tongue (Proverbs 31:10,26 JPS).

Disney got it right. The scariest villains are often women. Think about it. Cinderella’s wicked stepmother overworked the poor girl and locked her in an attic before she was finally rescued by her handsome prince. The evil Maleficent cast her jealous spell on Sleeping Beauty. Snow White battled a wicked queen who was envious of her beauty. And don’t forget Cruella De Vil [cruel devil] who kidnapped an entire litter of Dalmatian puppies, intending to use their fur to make into coats.

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, whose famed fairy tales actually had to be sanitized before they were suitable for children, were said to have portrayed a few mothers as villains. But the public outcry against mothers mistreating their own children forced the Grimm brothers to recast the mothers as evil stepmothers instead.

When I was a small child, the wicked woman that terrified me most—hands down—was the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. Years later, I can still hear that green-faced, old witch cackling, “My Little Pretty” as she taunts her captive, Dorothy.

A woman devoid of what Shakespeare called “the milk of human kindness” is a fearsome creature—especially to a child. Maybe that’s because as children, we instinctively open our hearts to women. From birth, we’re trained to look to our mothers for nurture and protection.

Kindness is central to the Proverbs 31 “virtuous women,” better translated, “woman of valor.” “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue” (Proverbs 31:26 ESV). A woman of valor is not only kind; she “teaches others to be kind” (verse 26 ICB).

The simple dictionary definition of kindness points to words such as “gentle or considerate.” But the Bible gives kindness a much stronger meaning. Kindness is listed among the fruit of the Holy Spirit that are present in the life of a believer (Galatians 5:22). The Greek word chrestos, translated “kindness,” is described as a “grace that pervades one’s whole nature” and is the opposite of harshness or severity. Christ’s yoke, or what he asks us to do, is chrestos, having nothing harsh or galling about it (Matthew 11:30).

Looking at the full portrait of the Proverbs 31 woman, we see that her kindness only adds to her strength. She is both leader and teacher. She speaks words of wise instruction to her family and others. But her leadership is always wrapped in kindness.

God created women to be strong and kind—part warrior and part nurturer. From Creation, he designed the woman to be the helper, or ezer—a source of rock-like support for her husband (Genesis 2:18). God equipped us with courage and strength. But he has added to that strength by making us capable of being kind and sharing that kindness with those around us.

Our Kindness Under Fire series is adapted from Woman of Valor by Marilynn Chadwick. Click here for more inspiration or to order a copy of Woman of Valor.

A Missing in Action Word for Christians: Living Out Kindness

by David Chadwick

Kindness. It is a word that our modern society seems to undervalue and it is a “missing in action” concept in the Christian world.

This week, my exhortation has been to reclaim kindness.

We have talked about remembering how important kindness is, we have talked about how to reclaim it, how to increase a life of kindness and show it to others.

Today, I want to call all of us to action to live out kindness from this moment forward.

Kindness does not come naturally. It has to be remembered, reclaimed, increased, demonstrated to all, and lived out every day.

Unfortunately, in this broken world, human nature is driven to take care of ourselves first and sometimes no one else at all. Some of us will expand care beyond ourselves and into our family, but the majority of natural instinct is to take care of self and to self-protect.

But when Jesus invades a heart, kindness MUST follow. After all, it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  It may be as simple as this truth: Grow closer to Jesus and more kindness will flow in and through you.

Jesus is the epitome of kindness and displayed it throughout his life here on earth. He always saw people through the eyes of kindness knowing they were like sheep without a shepherd. When we encounter the love and kindness of Jesus, it must flow through us to others.

To whom do you need to show kindness today? Someone in your family? Maybe it’s to a friend? Someone in your workplace? Maybe even to an enemy?

As we wrap up, I would challenge you with this question: If kindness is not in your life as a follower of Jesus, can you honestly say that your life is in him?

A Missing in Action Word for Christians: Kindness Toward All

by David Chadwick

Do you know what I think gives the best illustration of kindness in the entire Bible? The story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.

It is one of my favorite accounts in all of Scripture. Let’s look at it together.

If you know biblical history, you know that the Samaritans were derided by the Jews in Jesus’s day. They were absolutely hated. Despised even. They were considered the half-breeds of society.

When the Jews were in captivity in Babylon, many Jews married Gentiles who had been imported into the land. These unions produced the Samaritans, called such because of where they lived (Samaria). Jews had terribly racist attitudes toward the Samaritans and it permeated their entire culture.

Yet in this story of the Good Samaritan, a man was beaten by brigands and left for dead on the side for the road. Here is what makes this story so incredible. It was not a priest or a Levite - the professional religious people - who were the heroes of this story. The hero was a Samaritan!

The one who was most despised in those days was the one who ended up caring for the broken man on the side of the road. The Samaritan man not only stopped to help the battered and bruised individual, he put him up in a room and offered to pay for all of the expenses that would be incurred in the future. This man understood the kindness of the Lord! He was the hero of the story.

Kindness, it transcends human divisions and schisms. It loves outside of human prejudice. It sees ALL people as individuals created in God’s image.

Be kind! To whom? Everyone! All in this world are your neighbors. Yes, even those who hate you and have hurt you. And even your enemies!

Let God’s kindness evaporate all of your prejudice as you realize how much he has loved you in spite of your mess. You will begin to see everyone around you as people created in his image. Intended to be used for his glory.

As you love one another, you are actually loving Jesus!

Think about that, as you are kind to those around you.