God Speaking

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace., patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control”

(Galatians 5: 22 – 23)

I was chatting to my sister, who lives in Australia, just recently and she couldn’t wait to tell me about a surprising story about her birthday celebration.  A friend had invited her to lunch on her birthday at a very expensive restaurant set in a beautiful setting overlooking the beach. Both enjoyed a lovely meal with each other as they had been friends for many years. When my sister’s friend asked for the bill, they were amazed when the waiter told them it had been paid. They were very touched by the person’s kindness and left the restaurant with lifted spirits in the fact that in this present world of, a “me first” attitude, someone would think of someone else to bless with an act of kindness

Kindness is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and is one of the characteristics of our Heavenly Father that He would like to see practiced by His children. Giving is also is part of God’s love for us and Scripture tells us that the Lord loves a cheerful giver, not one who gives to impress, or gives to gain favor with someone, or gives to see what comes back from the gift, but Paul tells us in his letter to the Corinthians that God loves a cheerful giver, one who does not count the cost to himself

“Each man should give what he has decided to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9: 7)

This is exactly what the giver to my sister and her friend did. Giving does not always have to be in the form of money. Giving our time for somebody else is also a gift of kindness. My sister visits an old lady in a home and reads to her. No money is involved, but lots of kindness is.

Paul also entreats us to think of others more highly than ourselves. A difficult thing do when we are standing in a long line-up at the supermarket, but when we see an old person who looks weary or a young mother with a crying baby and a buggy full of groceries, and we willingly give up our place, that gift of kindness is one truly appreciated by the recipient.  We are living the word of Scripture.

Our Heavenly Father showers us with gifts of kindness and is the example for us to follow and His Word tells us not to take His gifts for granted and think that somehow we deserve them, but to recognise them and spread them to others around us, even if we do not know them, not expecting praise, but giving back the gifts to glorify Him.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father, of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1: 17)