“If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.”

1 John 3:17-18 CSB

I think way too often we overcomplicate being kind. It’s not always convenient, we often try to make hoops to jump through or other requirements in order to justify it; but the truth is, as a follower of Christ, being kind is a fruit of the Spirit and one that is much simpler than we try to make it. When we look at the way Jesus poured into the lives of the people around Him, it was often Him just being present with those around Him.

That’s what the core of being kind is, just being present with those around you, so that when a need or opportunity arises, you are there, ready to be a light.

John reiterates this when he reminds followers of the way, that it’s not about just saying something, but living it out.

Kindness is easy when you know the needs around you and are present to act as an example of Christ.

I’ve been meditating a lot on what it means to be a follower of Jesus, because sadly, in the current state of the world, there are a lot of people who use the identity of following Jesus as a means of getting ahead, rather than it being a real relationship. What this does, is erode what living for Christ means, and it breaks my heart.

The more I look at Jesus and the early church in Scripture however, the more I am encouraged by truth. I love how Jesus sets the stage of meeting the needs of those around Him, and then the church taking on that mantle. We see the church meets the needs of those around them, sharing what they have in order to make sure no one is left out and hurting on their journey.

I have seen in my own life, that the biggest influence I have is being present and willing to love in kindness as a need arises from those around me. It hasn’t gotten me famous or huge influence, but it has allowed me to make a difference and change the life of just one person; and that is more than enough for me.

Kindness is a selfless act of love, motivated by caring for someone else rather than our own gain.

I remember a while back, I had just hired a new staff member at a ministry I was leading. This person had a lot of ideas and wanted to make a bunch of changes as soon as they started, but I had to help them pause because they really didn’t know the people they were being put into the position of leading. I told them that for the first two months, their main job was to get to know the people they would lead, but they decided that they didn’t need to do that. What happened was they came in swinging, but didn’t have the trust of the people because they didn’t know the people.

I had to do a lot of coaching, and while I am no longer at that ministry, I hope they took to heart my coaching, but pride is a hard thing to release when you are unwilling to let go of our own image. For me, I try to fight pride, because it can be a deadly poison in our spirit and our acts of kindness that we are called to live out.

It’s not exclusive to those in ministry, but all that call themselves as Christ followers, you must be kind by being present to the flock Christ has called you to be a light to.

Pride means focusing on your own needs as the main priority, but kindness means focusing on the needs to the people God wants you to love in order to make Him famous.

Pride is a very tricky tactic of the enemy, especially in church spaces where the view of just pack out our building is a bigger focusing than being an equipping center to live out the way Christ calls us into. As the body of Christ, we are called to come together to pray and help each other in order to go out and be a light into the world. I am so thankful to be a part of a church where that is the goal, over just gathering for the sake of gathering.

Pride can also be tricky, in making us not live out being a light personally and using a church as a shield for us not having to do the work of kindness.

We need to be a light, and so that means being willing to do the work of knowing those around you, so that when a need comes up, you are ready to do the work.

Whether it’s helping a young parent pay for groceries, praying for someone that just experienced loss, being willing to open your home and give a meal; whatever it is, we are called to be ready and meet the need of those around you.

What this post boils down to is this; being kind is easy.

It is being humble and aware of the needs that surround you every day, and choosing to live like Jesus and make a difference.

Sometimes, it’s a small difference, like an encouraging text or letting the small inconveniences roll off your back.

Sometimes it’s bigger, like feeding someone or donating to help the people in your community.

Kindness is easy when you are present with your people.

When you look at the fruits of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23);” these are the fruits that come from a life devoted to following Jesus. These are identifiers that Christ is alive in you, so let the people around you know, not by your words, but by your actions that overflow from your heart.

Don’t put parameters on loving others, simply follow Jesus and be present.

You will be amazed by the impact you will have when you live like Jesus.

-Your pastor and friend, Joshua.

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About the Author: Joshua Thomas is a husband, father, and pastor doing what he can to love others the way Jesus did. You can find him reading a good book, sipping warm tea, taking pictures, or dreaming. He may not have it all figured out, but the journey is the best part. You can find him on the social media he uses Tik Tok, Bluesky and Instagram