Kindness – A Matter Of Discipline by Kim Reisman

Scripture Focus:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

In our passage for today, Jesus describes his yoke as “easy.” The Greek word for this is chrestos. It’s the same word that is sometimes translated as kindness when talking about the fruit of the Spirit. It’s also sometimes translated as gentleness. I believe this points to the importance of integrating our inner character and the outward expression of our lives as we grow in the full stature of Christ. We are to become patient and kind, good and gentle.

Another interesting use of the word chrestos is to describe old wine – old wine is mellow. Christ’s yoke is chrestos – it’s mellow. It doesn’t chafe or hurt. It fits, it’s easy. There’s a significant connection here. We’re called to a particular style of relationship with others. We’re to be with them in the same way Christ is with us – making their way easier because we’re yoked together. Our kindness is an expression of Christ’s presence within us. It’s a way of being with others that gives the strength and power they need to go on.

Years ago, I heard a story about a young woman whose husband was a doctor in India during World War II who died from a tropical disease of some sort. The shock of it sent her into despair. She lost all interest in life, not caring whether she live or died. She booked passage on a ship back to the United States and on that ship she met the survivor of another tragedy – a seven-year-old boy, whose missionary parents had been killed in the fighting in Burma. The little boy was attracted to the woman. A seven-year-old needs a mother, especially under those circumstances. But she would have nothing to do with him. In fact, she scheduled her time on shipboard to avoid him. She couldn’t get outside herself and her sorrow long enough to comfort a little boy. “I have my own problems to deal with” is how she described it.

One night the ship was torpedoed and began to sink slowly. The woman came out on deck, preparing herself to go down with the ship. She had no will to live and decided not even to seek an escape. But on the deck she saw the little boy, shivering with cold and fright. He saw her, ran over, and clung to her. Something came over her. She led him to one of the lifeboats; they both got in, and, for the next several days, until they were rescued, she held him. Looking back on the incident, her friends said they didn’t know whether the woman saved the boy or the boy saved the woman.

Kindness – yoked together in a fashion that makes the way of another easier. Why are we so blind that we fail to see kindness as the salvation needed by so many? Men, women, young, old. People need to have someone with them in the fashion that Christ is with us, making their way easier because we are yoked with them.

We talk about random acts of kindness. When those acts happen it brightens everyone’s day. But kindness as a fruit of the Spirit is hardly random. It’s an aggressive and assertive kindness – always reaching out for easy yoking.

As you pray and fast this week, think about this definition of kindness: yoked together in a fashion that makes the way of another easier. Are you yoked together with anyone in that fashion? Is there anyone you need to be yoked together with in that way but are not? I will be praying that if there is such a person in your life, that you will begin to cultivate kindness toward them, yoking yourself in a way that makes their way easier.