“You shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children . . . There I will provide for you.” —Genesis 45:10–11
The second characteristic of love listed in 1 Corinthians 13 is kindness. One writer has said, “Patience will take anything from others, but kindness will give anything to others, even to its enemies.” Kindness is a giving love. It’s being useful, serving, and gracious.
A wonderful illustration of this is the story of Joseph. In the last chapters of Genesis, Joseph experienced one event after another where people treated him badly, much of it coming from his brothers.
When Joseph became second-in-command in Egypt, he was in a position to take vengeance on everyone who ever wronged him. However, when his brothers came to Egypt, he had a different response. He chose the pathway of kindness and met their needs in practical ways.
Think about someone who wronged you. Can you imagine saying, “What can I do to meet their practical needs?” That’s kindness. Yet it isn’t possible unless God loves others through us. His kindness is what motivates our kindness.
Make it Personal
Think of someone that you find it difficult to show kindness to. Is there a way you could help meet one of his or her practical needs?