Proverbs 11:17 says, “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.” This is true on many different levels. Kindness always prevails. It doesn’t mean that those who are kind will be free from trouble. In fact, we know that kind people are often martyred for the sake of Christ. But being kind benefits the person who exhibits kind behavior. People who are kind have more friends because they are warm and inviting. Cruel people are lonely because nobody wants to be near them.
The scriptures don’t stop with kindness. We are told to go beyond kindness and love our enemies. Jesus himself said that it is of no benefit to love those who love us back. He continued, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
The scriptures have a lot to say about loving your enemies. This is not easy, nor should it be. Love is a discipline. But when we exercise love and mercy, people see the goodness of Christ living in us. And the word of God becomes more attractive to people who are in need of salvation.