Kind Words (Eph. 4:32)
Ephesians 4:32 begins with the words, “And be kind to one another” (NKJV). Look at how this verse fits in perfectly with what we saw yesterday, about treating others as God has treated us!
Kindness is to mark the Christian at all times. But there are at least three specific needs that call for three specific kinds of encouragement.
First, we are to show kindness to spiritual babies. “But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children” (1 Thess. 2:7, NKJV).
Second, we are to show kindness and encouragement to the weak. “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Rom. 15:1, NKJV).
Third, we are to serve as a nurse to the spiritually sick (2 Tim. 2:24, 25).
A businessman was once heard to say, “I can’t wait to get home at night, I get so tired of being kind all day!” What a sad attitude to have toward human life.
Kindness, especially in our homes, is crucial. And one of the most important ways we can manifest kindness, especially in our homes, is in the way we talk to each other. The atmosphere of the home largely is determined by the words we speak. So many problems, so many hurts, so many tensions and outright fights could be avoided were we careful not only with what we say but how we say it. Oftentimes one could say something and not hurt or offend, or one could say the exact words to the same person and greatly hurt and offend. The key is how we speak. Human speech is more than just the meanings of words themselves; tone, facial expression, body language, stress are all part and parcel of conveying our thoughts, emotions, and ideas to others.
Read Proverbs 15:1–5 and Proverbs 25:11–15. What important principles about what you say and how you say it are revealed in these texts? As you read them, ask yourself about your use of words when talking to others. In what ways could you be kinder in your verbal communication with others?
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