“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” - Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV).
King David is quite an amazing character study. At first glance it is easy to take him for one hardened man devoid of a soft heart. When a messenger brought to him the news of the death of once his tormentor King Saul, and claimed to have finished him off in his suicide bid, he wasn’t amused. “David asked him, “Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” Then David called one of his men and said, “Go, strike him down!” So he struck him down, and he died” (I Samuel 1:15). Expect no mercy!
But it is the same David after routing all his enemies, the throne of Israel firmly secured, who “asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1). Jonathan, Saul’s son, had saved David more than once when his father sought to kill him (1 Samuel 20). A servant of Saul, Ziba, came forward and “answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet…When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan…came to David, (he)…said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table” (2 Samuel 9:3-7).
Kindness has been described as “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate”! Some would say David was kind to Mephibosheth because it was only expected after all Jonathan had done for him! Yet, how often do we find those with power, and who conveniently forget where they came from! Kindness is most felt when a favor is extended to someone in need. Unfortunately, there is a sadistic streak we sometimes come across of those who enjoy at keeping at bay, in suspense of others, before dismissing them with their needs. A simple request for a favor brings no consideration.
Some people see kindness as sign of weakness, perhaps a trap for someone to take advantage of them. King David had the power to neglect the crippled Mephibosheth but he didn’t feel threatened by being kind. The one thing about kindness is that each one of us has that power over somebody to cause grief or bring pleasure. The Lord Almighty expects us to show kindness whenever we are in position of power, as we clearly see of King David.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as you are a kind and loving Father, may I through the gift of the Holy Spirit show kindness to those in need, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
