Kindness is very underrated in our culture.
We want other people to be kind toward us, but we are (or should I say I am) not
kind in practice. We want other people to let us cut in front in a line of
traffic, but when someone tries to cut in front of us, we are jerks.
Our texts for today make contrasts between
those who are doing the right things, and those who aren’t. The first comparison
is the level of kindness a person shows. The kind person gains honor, something
that can’t be taken away. The ruthless (those lacking kindness) gain wealth.
Some would say, if that is the case, give me
ruthlessness so I can have wealth. But wealth carries some heavy baggage. Ruin,
a life of deception, death, the LORD’s distain and punishment all await those
who are unkind. People who are unkind tend to end up alone.
Money is not permanent wealth. When you die,
it stays here. The rewards of kindness begin to demonstrate themselves here in
this life, but they come to maturity in eternity. No one can take those rewards
away. Kindness is a guaranteed income stream. Kindness is a long term
investment.
Kindness is not the fake smile plastered on
a bad attitude. Kindness results in actions that primarily benefit the other
person. These actions are often very small, like holding a door for someone,
allowing them to enter before you. They often go unnoticed and unacknowledged.
There is often no quick return on the investment.
Verse twenty one begins with the words “be
sure of this.” Just a people walking hand in hand share things in common, so
wickedness and punishment are connected. This is something about which we can
be sure. The wicked will be punished. Cruelty will backfire. Wealth will
disappear.