“Then God said let Us make men in our image, according to our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” Genesis 1:26

God is the creator of heaven and earth and among those He created is man, in His own image. Unlike everything that He created, man is the only creature created in His image and to which He breathed life. It is indeed a privilege to know that we are all in the image of Almighty God. Man was and will always be forefront of the agenda of God because He created him for a reason. He created us and gave us dominion over all His creation that is on earth, sea, air etc. If God the creator of man saw it fit to give such dominion to man why are people treating each other the way we do in society. Why are we no longer having regard for human life that God carefully created in His image? When did we start to devalue man to a point of killing them for no reason or treating them as objects that are there to just advance our interests?

One would argue that this came with sin and the fall of man. As much as this is true, there is so much we can do as people to respect human life and to treat people with respect. It can be a matter of treating those around us like our colleagues at work, our helpers at home, waiters and waitresses etc with dignity and respect and slowly society can change. The problem is sometimes we know what is wrong, we even talk about it and how wrong it is but we turn away and do exactly what we were condemning. If we truly want our society to change and a better future for our children we have to have respect for human lives whether they are educated or not or they deserve it or not. Small acts of kindness that we do in front of our children we teach them how they should treat people. It costs nothing to be kind and friendly to somebody even if you don’t know them.

Your kindness can save a life

For an example, when last did you pay a friend a visit without waiting for them to tell you they have a crisis? When last did you check with your helper how her children are doing back home while she is looking after yours? These may seem insignificant but if implemented correctly bit by bit, we can change the complexion of our society. When we start caring for people and treat them with dignity we earn their trust. You never know they might be going through a rough time and you might be the solution that they need just by giving them ear or asking how they are doing.

I read a story of a man called Don Ritchie from Sydney, Australia who saved about 160 lives of people who were planning to commit suicide. This man lives near The Gap, an ocean cliff in Sydney which is a popular tourist destination. The Gap is also popular as a suicide spot with an estimated 50 people taking their lives there. As individuals walked to the cliff looking at waves below contemplating whether to take their lives or not, Don would approach them with a smile asking them “why don’t you come and have a cup of tea?” Others would accept his offer into his home where they would chat over tea and talk about what is bothering them. For many all they needed was a listening ear and they changed their minds about suicide and turned back home. People are going through circumstances that are unbearable and sometimes one act of kindness can make them see life in a better light. Reach out to people through kind words and encouragement.

What Don did near the ocean cliff you and me can do at home, work, church or shopping mall etc. You can start by greeting people as you encounter them and asking how they are doing. That could be all they need that day to know that they matter. They could be on the verge of suicide and that hello could be a bridge to bring them back from bad self-defeating thoughts. Others might even open up to you by narrating their story to you but as they open up and talk they can find hope to live and face their tomorrow. Don managed to persuade some not to take their lives by doing this.

Sadly, some of the most hurting people are found in church but sometimes we are not even aware. They come and go through our churches and instead of getting help feel they are judged and leave. The church also needs to reach out to the people not to pry on their affairs but to let them know that there is help available for them by way of counselling. We sometimes get too busy with our programmes and forget the assignment is about God’s people and their salvation.
Celestine Chua in her article listed the following acts of kindness that we can adopt

Acts of kindness

– greet and start a conversation with someone
– give a smile
– give a hug
– give a genuine complement
– say thank you
– listen more
– don’t judge

God is love and He said we should owe no man nothing but to love one another. Romans 13:8

Love is kind. You can start today, it’s not too late. You don’t need a reason to be kind just do it.
The bible tells us of a Shunamite woman in 2 Kings 4:8 who prepared a place to stay for Elisha. Whenever he would pass by, he turned in her house to eat some food. This act of kindness moved Elisha to ask what he can do for her without her asking for anything.

In Luke 10:30 Jesus told a parable of a man who fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothes and wounded him. The bible narrates how the Priest and a Levite passed the man without helping him. The man was helped by a Samaritan who bandaged his wounds and took him to an inn where he took care of him. This was kind of the man to do that for a stranger. Jesus concluded the parable by asking the disciples who of the three people who passed the man is a neighbour. Without doubt it is the one who showed mercy and took care of the man and Jesus answered “Go and do likewise”. Go and show mercy to strangers, be willing to pay for what they cannot pay for, be willing to be inconvenienced for them and even be willing to give up your plan and time for them.

Have we by any chance forgotten this? Have we neglected the call to the needs of the people? It would be unfortunate if it is so. Jesus is still saying we should go and do likewise. We should care for orphans and widows. Care for strangers even as the woman did to Elisha. Care for His people all His people. Love is kind. Be generous, friendly and considerate to others. We all can do it.

What if people don’t appreciate our kindness

Not all people will receive your kindness in good faith as some may think you have ulterior motives, it’s okay you will not be received by everyone move on. God created man in His own image let us not forget and treat His people anyhow. Spread kindness.

Shalom!