“Blessed is he who is kind to the needy.” [Prov 14:21b]
I departed from the songs in the Book of Psalms this morning and grabbed this proverb of blessing. The entire verse reads, “He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed (‘esher “How Happy!”) is he who is kind to the needy.”
Kindness. If there is one attitude that seems to be disappearing it is this one. I say seems to be disappearing. Kindness is certainly not seen in our media, nor heard in the rhetoric of our politics. It has disappeared in many places, but in other places, kindness can still be found.
When the fires swept through California recently, people opened hearts and homes. The Salvation Army went to work, Convoy of Hope, and other aid agencies were on the scene as quickly as possible. Heroes drove patients out of the Paradise Hospital in their cars, and a school bus driver and two teachers rescued 22 students from the elementary school, driving through the flames for five hours (30 miles) to return these children to their parents. Kindness flourished in crisis.
If there is any place where kindness should flourish as part of its nature, it is the church. When we see the hungry and the homeless, we should respond. When we see the struggling, the addicted, the despondent and discouraged, we should meet them with kindness. Jesus was quite clear about how we are to treat the needy. We won’t find that “How Happy!” blessing until we do.
Thank you, LORD, for blessing me when I bless others. Amen.
