Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
“Being kind sometimes means we’re ignored or rebuffed, unwelcome and left out to dry. That’s the risk. Kindness should not expect kindness in return. A life of generous kindness doesn’t mean it will always be welcomed kindness…Kindness never bullies…Though our methods of kindness may be rejected, our attempts don’t need to be abandoned.”
Barry H. Corey in Love Kindness: Discover the Power of a Forgotten Christian Virtue (Nashville: Tyndale, 2016) 75-79.
On this trip I have been reminded to choose kindness on numerous occasions. It seems the more we travel around on this round ball called “earth” the more opportunities we get to bump into people. In those moments, I am learning that “choosing kindness” means that I must not point out their failures. That’s not my job. I must also not try to convince them I am right. That never gets anywhere.
So why must we choose kindness and what does it have to do with generosity?
The Apostle Paul described “choosing” literally as putting fleshly responses to death or crucifying them. Today each of us will have plenty of opportunities to be overcome by evil. With the Spirit’s help, there’s another path. Father, produce the fruit of kindness in each of us today by your Holy Spirit so that your generosity will shine like a light in this dark world. Make it so I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.