Gifts of Kindness

Most gifts are given to benefit the receiver. But sometimes we can give a gift that also benefits the giver. For instance, a husband may give a gift to his wife that is related to her ability to cook something tasty for him. I don’t recommend this type of gift, but it does happen.

Proverbs 11:17 says, “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.” Kindness benefits the giver and receiver. God’s kindness to us is freely given, so we should freely and generously offer kindness to other people.

The Fruit of Our Lives

It is true that our actions affect other people. If we get angry, we may damage relations, destroy property, and even affect outcomes. If we help another person in need, we may improve their ability to move forward in life. Often, we don’t consider the wider impact of the way we live our lives.

Proverbs 11:10 says, “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.” When we live righteously, even those around us benefit. We can improve the outlook for our families, neighborhood, cities, and nations by choosing to live the lives that God intended for us.

Hurry To The Right Place

Our lives are filled with rushing from one place to another and from one task to another. We have our jobs, kids events, sports, doctors’ appointments, social activities, family gatherings, and errands to attend. They are all calling our names constantly and we have to hurry to meet these demands.

Luke 19:5-6 says, “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.” Like Zacchaeus we should always be looking for Jesus to come and hurry to accept His invitation to stay with us. His invitation is the most important and one we must accept.

Listen to His Voice

When a familiar voice calls out our name, we stop and look. We want to hear what they have to say to us. God is constantly calling out our name. He wants to impart the wisdom and understanding that give us life and surround us with His favor. We must develop the habit of listening and become more familiar with His voice.

Proverbs 8:1, 35 says, “Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD.” One of our greatest pursuits is the search for wisdom. And yet, wisdom and understanding can easily be found. God is calling out to us with His wisdom through His Word, His Son, and His creation. Listen to Him, and we receive life and His favor.

Walking in Darkness

Every morning, I walk six to eight miles. It is almost always still dark when I set out. The darkness creates a problem for me as I can’t see some tree roots and uneven surfaces. So I sometimes trip and fall, suffering the scrapes and bruises caused by my careless steps in the darkness.

I Samuel 2:9 says, “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.” If we are doing something that we really don’t want other people to know about, we should examine whether we are doing the right thing. God secures our steps when we walk according to the light of the truth that He gives us. Careless steps in the darkness often lead to disastrous falls.