Suffering and Kindness

 “Love suffers long, and is kind…” 1 Corinthians 13:4

Since God is love (1 John 4:8), and Jesus is God, then we may easily substitute the name of Jesus when the word for God’s love, agape, is used in Scripture. We will use the words “love”, or “agape”, and “Jesus” interchangeably in this devotional about love. Likewise, to contrast God’s pure love with self-love, we will use the words “I” and “self” interchangeably. As you read, pause often to take inventory of your own life.

First, we are told that love suffers long. Jesus suffers long. Jesus suffered on the cross. He suffered attitudes, misunderstandings, faithlessness, opposition, and outright rejection by His friends and family. Others whom He loved mocked and criticized Him, told lies about Him, and put Him to a torturous, demeaning death. He loved them all, to the very end. “Father, forgive them….” He loves them still.

I do not suffer long, nor willingly. I can suffer a short time, if I think there is some moral reason to do so. (Just ask me. I’m a mother, after all!) Self does not like to suffer, be it long or short. Self is intolerant of discomfort. Self rises up against longsuffering. Self opposes opposition of any sort. Self defends itself against mockery, lies, and criticism. Self tries to get out from under suffering before any good can come from it.

Next, we read that love is kind. Jesus is kind. Jesus went about doing good, always doing the will of His Father. His acts of kindness drew many followers. People could see that He was Someone who could be trusted to be kind. He blessed the children. Did not accuse the woman caught in adultery. Fed the poor. Healed the sick and the brokenhearted. Comforted the grieving. Forgave sins. Restored. Reconciled. Overcame. Gave hope. Kept promises. Breathed new life into things that had died. All these are kind acts of love, extended even to those who responded unkindly.

I am too often unkind. Self is unkind. Self says and does things that hurt others. Self repels others. Self helps itself, not others. I am kind first and foremost to myself, making sure I am comfortable, well-fed, well-dressed, and well-thought of by others. In this way, I am being unkind to myself. I do myself no real favor when I put myself first, for it is in giving that we receive; it is in putting ourselves last that we are invited to come forward; it is the humble and the least of these who are honored by our Father. It is the kindness I show others that comes back to me in the kindly acts of others. It is the kindness I sow that I eventually reap.

Father, give us the grace to suffer long. Forgive us for pursuing kindness to ourselves before others. Teach us to love with Your love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.