Kindness (Proverbs 19:22)

It is desirable for all of us to exhibit kindness.

"That which is desired in a man is loyalty and kindness, and his glory and delight are his giving, but a poor man is better than a liar." Proverbs 19:22, Amplified

I have to be honest and say that this verse eludes me a little. It compares a kind man to a poor man and a liar. What do the three have in common and how can we reconcile them?

Well Unger seems to feel that this verse has to do with riches. He states, "His kindness is what makes him desirable. And a poor man, though severely limited as far as material means are concerned, but disposed to acts of kindness, is better than a liar, a rich man who deceptively withholds his wealth with which he has promised to relieve the poverty-stricken. His deceptive stinginess places him far below the godly poor, who have little or nothing to give." (Unger's Commentary on the Old Testament) I do not agree with Unger, however. There is nothing in the verse that suggests the liar is a rich man, nor that he promised to help with his riches. The key to understanding the verse is in the first half. "What is desired in a man is kindness..." (NKJV) It is desirable for a man to exhibit kindness, but what if he had the ability to commit kind acts but chose not to do so? That man is now become a liar. Who cares what his financial status is, we are talking about kindness. Kindness can be found in word or deed, and if either happens to involve money, then yes, money. Money itself cannot be kind nor selfish nor exhibit any other human emotion. Kindness comes from the person behind the money. There are those, who like myself, struggle to make ends meet financially, but still find it within ourselves to act kindly and do kind things.

If it is in your power, do it. Try instilling the RAOK philosophy in your life. Random Acts of Kindness may be the key to rekindling the fire inside.