S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

First Corinthians 13 stands as one of the most famous chapters in the Bible. The subject is love, and many consider this portion of Scripture to be Paul's greatest literary work. In verse 4, we rea...

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July 01 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

James Kraft Supporter 74 year old retired pipeline worker

Jesus' comandment to us was to love God and love people. All love comes from God. If we love others we will not steal from them, talk bad about them, covet anything they own, or treat them unkindly in any way. We will also do what ever is in our power to do to help them with their needs. We will weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who are rejoicing. 

When we see others' faults we will remember we have our own faults and overlook theirs. We will love them because Jesus loved us and forgave us all our sins. Our basis for treating others is based on what Jesus did on the cross for us. Love does not boast in its own righteousness. Love is not proud and arrogant. Instead of demanding perfection from others we remember that Jesus forgave us all our sins and is still forgiving us all our sins. If you say you have no sin you are a liar and do not the truth.

We will not pick at little things and put others under the letter of the law.
Love always gives the other person the benefit of the doubt. 

We have no love in ourselves and it all has to come from God. If we loved others the way Jesus loves us there would be very few divorces or church splits. We shouldn't fight over the smallest details, but sometimes we do.

Love gives with no reward expected. Love says people are more important than precepts. Love is the opposite of hate. Love and compassion are the opposite of religion. Religion is what we do to gain God's favor. Love is what we do because we have His favor.

August 08 2015 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

"Kindness makes a person attractive. If you would win the world, melt it, do not hammer it."
- Alexander Maclaren

"[Love] 'Is kind'(χρηστεύεται). Only here in the New Testament. See on χρηστὸς, A. V., easy, Matt. 11:30, and χρηστότης good, Rom. 3:12."

--Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament

So since Jesus (God) is the only One who is truly good and does good things, we must be saved and utilize His power to do good ourselves. And then it will be easy to be kind.

When 1 Corinthians 13:4 says, “Love is kind,” it means that true love expresses itself through acts of kindness, compassion, and generosity toward others. Kindness is not just a feeling but a deliberate action that seeks the good of others, even when it is inconvenient or undeserved.

Here are some Bible verses that expand on the kindness of love:

Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

True love forgives and shows compassion, just as Christ has forgiven us.

Proverbs 11:17 – “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.”

Kindness not only blesses others but also brings good into our own lives.

Colossians 3:12 – “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”

Love is shown through kindness, humility, and patience.

Luke 6:35 – “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”

God’s love is kind even to those who don’t deserve it, setting an example for us.

Titus 3:4-5 – “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.”

God’s kindness is an expression of His love, leading to our salvation.

True love, according to the Bible, is actively kind—it seeks to encourage, uplift, help, and show mercy. It’s not passive but is demonstrated through gentle words, generous actions, and patient endurance.

February 15 2025 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What does it mean that love is kind?

That love is kind means that love is an active and selfless expression of goodwill, characterised by a benevolent, gentle, and helpful attitude towards others, even when they have not been kind in return. This involves acting for the good of others, treating them with consideration and sympathy, and being generous in ways that are both felt and shown through actions. 

Imagine you are on a bus with no more seats, but at the next stop, an older adult gets on. What will you do? Will you stay seated? Or will you get up and offer your seat to that person? Getting up and offering your seat is not only an act of kindness but also a sign of love for the older adult.

The words "become kind" suggest that, at least to a certain degree, we may not have been kind and that we may need to improve. How appropriate that we train ourselves to consider the feelings of others ahead of our own! (Phil. 2:4) Not to your own things severally looking, But to the things of others severally:—Rotherham Bible.

Because of being created "in God's image," all humans are capable of developing the quality of kindness. (Gen. 1:27) 

For example, Julius, a Roman army officer in whose custody the apostle Paul travelled to Rome, treated the apostle "with kindness and permitted him to go to his friends and enjoy their care" at the city of Sidon. (Acts 27:3) 

Then, sometime later, the inhabitants of Malta showed "extraordinary kindness" to Paul and others who had just experienced a shipwreck. The islanders even made a fire to warm the victims. (Acts 28:1, 2) Yet, as commendable as their actions were, kindness involves more than just performing an occasional kind act.

How? To please God fully, we must develop kindness as a permanent part of our personality and way of life. For this reason, Paul wrote, "Put on therefore as men chosen of God, holy and beloved, Tender affections of compassion, graciousness, lowliness of mind, meekness, long-suffering," (Col. 3:12) --Rotherham Bible.

When the apostle Paul listed what distinguished him as God's minister, he included "kindness." (2 Cor. 6:3-6) People were drawn to Paul because of his personal interest in them, which he expressed through kind actions and words. (Acts 28:30, 31) Similarly, we can attract people to God's Word by our kind behaviour. When we show kindness to all, including those who oppose us, we may warm their heart and melt away their hostility. (Rom. 12:20) In time, they may even be attracted to the Bible's message.

Conclusion:

Fundamentally, love's kindness means mirroring the unmerited favour and compassion that one has received, [or reflecting the example of Jesus Christ in our lives], reflecting a desire to build others up rather than seeking self-glorification. It transforms relationships by fostering an environment of grace, humility, and mutual support. 

A kind person is sensitive to others' feelings and needs and treats them with respect, rather than being rude or dismissive.

Jesus is an excellent model for us all to imitate: 1 Peter 2:21 Rotherham Bible: "For hereunto have ye been called; Because Christ also suffered in your behalf, unto you leaving behind a pattern that ye might follow in his steps."

3 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report